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1. What Is a Company Retreat Agenda?
A company retreat agenda is essentially a schedule of events, which provides the attendees with details of the various activities and discussions due to take place, as well as the timings for each item on the itinerary.
2. Tips to Remember While Creating a Retreat Agenda
2.1. Define Clear Objectives
Defining a clear set of objectives at the start of your agenda-building process will heavily influence the kinds of things you include. For example, if your objective is to promote wellness, you will probably have an agenda that features exercises like yoga, and nutritional meals as well as sessions to discuss anxiety-relieving techniques.
2.2. Consider Participant Preferences
Take the time to ask your participants what they would like to have included on the agenda. There may be certain topics (teamwork, communication, time management) or types of retreat (beach resort, outdoor adventure) that are preferred by a majority of staff, and this should be considered before making a final schedule.
2.3. Create a Realistic Schedule
While the temptation might be to pack as many things into your company retreat agenda template as possible, remember to leave a suitable amount of time for each item, as well as enough time between sessions. Overstuffing the schedule can be counterintuitive, as it leads to lower productivity and creates stress.
2.4. Foster Collaboration and Interaction
Building relationships should always be a consideration for any corporate retreat. Especially in the modern workplace, when there has been a move towards hybrid and remote work, your agenda should allot time to socializing and interaction. This can be achieved through both scheduling recreational activities and workshops centred on collaboration.
2.5. Incorporate Learning and Development
Include learning and development sessions in the agenda to promote core skills. These can be headed by an internal expert or an external facilitator. Usually, the L&D will target soft skills, but you can also feature practical items like data-driven decision-making and project management frameworks.
2.6. Leave Room for Flexibility
Don’t feel that you must create an entirely rigid schedule. Building a bit of flexibility into the agenda means you don’t need to worry about underrunning or overrunning. Consider adding some optional activities into the mix, and don’t forget to incorporate free time so staff can refresh and regroup in between the various periods.
2.7. Emphasize Employee Wellbeing
Set aside time for activities to promote employee well-being and engagement. Even if these aren’t the overarching goals of your retreat, they should form cornerstones of your agenda, as corporate getaways are an excellent opportunity to revitalize staff motivation with inspiring talks and enjoyable excursions.
2.8. Communicate and Manage Expectations
As we’ve already mentioned, one of the benefits of having a company retreat agenda template is that it informs staff about what is scheduled to take place. By communicating the itinerary ahead of time, you tell employees what to expect and give them the opportunity to plan accordingly.
3. 7 Company Retreat Agenda Templates
3.1. Agenda Template for Board Retreat
This company retreat agenda template is specifically designed for getaways for board members. Since the board is the governing body of the company, the agenda should heavily feature big-picture analysis and discussion.
Day One
4 pm Arrive and settle in
6.30 pm Welcome speech from the chairman
7 pm Dinner and socializing
Day Two
7-8.30 am Breakfast
9 am Presentation from the chairman on the past year’s performance and challenges
10 am Guest speaker John Smith on how to achieve success with ESG goals
12-2 pm Lunch
2.30-4 pm Workshop and discussion on cybersecurity infrastructure
4-7 pm Free time
7 pm Dinner and socializing
Day Three
7-8.30 am Breakfast.
9 am-12 pm Team-building activities involving active listening training
12-2 pm Lunch
2-3 pm Presentation on future trends
3 pm Final remarks
3.30 pm Depart the hotel
3.2. Agenda Template for Staff Retreat
Some staff retreats only last a day. If that’s the case, you need to balance the limited time with a well-rounded experience that is engaging for the staff.
Morning Session
9 am Registration in Ballroom A of the hotel, accompanied by coffee and pastries
9.30 am Welcome speech from the CEO
10 am Icebreaker games hosted by the external facilitator
11 am Presentation on the essential skills necessary for a successful salesperson
12 pm Break for lunch
Afternoon Session
1 pm Seminar on ways to reduce stress in the office
2 pm Break into smaller groups for a workshop on how to close a client
3 pm Presentation on company objectives for the next year
4 pm Concluding remarks from the CEO
4.30 pm Drinks and socializing
6 pm Depart the hotel
3.3. Agenda Template for Full Company Retreat
If you are taking your entire office on a retreat as opposed to a specific department, your company retreat agenda template may need to be more general, while including breakout sessions for individual team meetings.
Day One
12 pm Arrive and settle in
2 pm Welcome speech from the managing director
2.30 pm Introduction to the program of the retreat
3 pm Icebreaker games.
4 pm Individual presentations from different departments, summarizing the past year’s successes and innovations
6 pm Free time
7 pm Dinner
Day Two
7-9 am Breakfast
9 am Separate departmental meetings
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Keynote speaker Joe Bloggs to deliver a speech on the importance of communication, followed by team-building workshops
4 pm Short refresher break
4.30 pm Team games
6 pm Free time
7 pm Dinner, followed by the annual awards ceremony
Day Three
7-9 am Breakfast
9 am Free time. Optional activities will be available for staff to sign onto, including hiking, yoga and paddleboarding
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Final remarks
2.30 pm Depart the hotel
3.4. Agenda Template for Annual Winter Corporate Retreat
Many companies embark on seasonal retreats every year. In winter, this normally involves snow-capped mountains, skiing and snowboarding, and discussions around a roaring fireplace.
Day One
9 am-12 pm Scattered arrivals at the lodge
12 pm Welcome speech in the main dining room, followed immediately by lunch
2 pm Annual roundup of the company’s achievements in the preceding year
3 pm Short break
3.30 pm Diversity and Inclusion training session
4.30 pm Short break
5 pm Keynote speech on social media as a marketing tool
6 pm Free time
7 pm Mixer dinner
Day Two
7-9 am Breakfast.
9 am Join in on a range of optional activities led by the lodge activities team, including skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Staff can also choose to go on a self-guided hike or take advantage of the sauna and heated swimming pool facilities
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Breakout meetings by department
7 pm Dinner with your department
Day Three
7-9 am Breakfast.
9 am Join in on a range of optional activities led by the lodge activities team, including skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Staff can also choose to go on a self-guided hike or take advantage of the sauna and heated swimming pool facilities
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Speech from CEO
2.30 pm Scattered departures from the lodge
3.5. Agenda Template for Annual Summer Corporate Retreat
Instead of holding a retreat at the end of the calendar year, some companies prefer to opt for a getaway during the hottest season, when woodland escapes and beach resorts are ideal.
Day One
9 am-12 pm Scattered arrivals at the beach resort
12 pm Welcome speech on the seaside terrace, followed immediately by lunch
2 pm Team-building activity
4 pm Free time
7 pm Dinner
Day Two
6-9 am Breakfast
9 am Presentation on the future of the company
10 am Soft skills workshops
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Breakout meetings by department
7 pm Dinner
Day Three
6-9 am Breakfast
10 am Keynote speaker
11 am Seminar on how to be more organized in the workplace
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Free time
7 pm Dinner
8 pm Annual company awards ceremony
Day Four
6-9 am Breakfast
9 am Scattered departures
3.6. Agenda Template for Leadership Corporate Retreat
A strategic planning retreat agenda is best suited to leadership getaways. With all your managerial executives in one place, you can tackle the big issues facing your company and improve your managerial skills.
Day One
10-10.30 am Arrival at the venue
10.30 am Welcome speech from the CEO
11 am State of the company presentation, including objectives for the coming year
12pm Work break or free time
1-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Keynote speech on how to be an effective leader
3 pm Conflict resolution training
4 pm Work break or free time
7 pm Dinner and socializing
Day Two
7-9 am Breakfast
9 am Department head's presentations
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Open discussion about how to deal with key challenges
3 pm Work break or free time
5 pm IT training on analytics software and cybersecurity
7 pm Dinner
8 pm Closing speech from CEO
Day Three
7-9 am Breakfast
9 am Checkout
3.7. Agenda Template for Wellness Corporate Retreat
The objective of a wellness retreat agenda is to help staff achieve better mental and physical health. That means predominantly filling your agenda with activities that target stress-busting and exercise, as well as plenty of time for R&R.
Day One
10 am-12 pm Arrival at the venue.
12.30 am Welcome speech from the CEO
1-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Choice of health-oriented activities, including yoga, meditation and Pilates
3.30 pm Free time
7 pm Dinner
Day Two
7-9 am Breakfast
9 am Presentation on how to deal with stress in the workplace
10 am Break into smaller groups for a workshop on managing stressful situations, using methodology from the presentation
11 am Free time
12-2 pm Lunch
2 pm Art therapy classes, including painting, drawing and pottery
3 pm Free time
4 pm Group hike
7 pm Dinner
Day Three
7-9 am Breakfast
9 am Checkout
4. FAQs
4.1. What is the agenda of a retreat?
The agenda of a retreat informs all participants what sessions have been planned and what time they will take place. It is designed to guide attendees through the entire getaway so that they have a roadmap of activities to follow.
4.2. How do I make a retreat agenda?
If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can use a company retreat agenda template as the foundation for your itinerary, adapting it to fit with your unique objectives and the chosen location for your corporate getaway.
4.3. How do you structure a company retreat?
To structure a company retreat, you can plan team-building activities, workshops, and discussions that encourage bonding and brainstorming. Consider a mix of fun, learning, and strategy sessions tailored to your team's goals.
4.4. Why is it necessary to have a company retreat agenda?
First and most importantly of all, having a company retreat agenda informs everybody when they need to be where. This is obviously key for the timely execution of any meetings or team-building pursuits.
Second, an agenda allows attendees time to prepare in advance for any seminars or workshops. Lastly, an agenda clarifies the goals of the retreat, setting expectations and giving people a window into the kinds of themes that are going to be in focus.
