Actually, I call them ADVANCES. We “retreat” (come away) so we can ADVANCE.
Each business advance is structured around the need of the client and the desired outcome. In most cases, it involves hours of interviews, the development of issue papers (written in third person), and a process to bring participants to individual and professional insights. No one ADVANCE is like another.
Look at some of the case studies below and you will have an idea as to the concept.
In Her Own Voice™ retreats are more personal in nature. Through a process of reflection, journaling, and communal sharing, participants discover what is their desired Act III.
Retreats:
Teambuilding From The Group Up (Retreat) – Tired of being alone in a crowd? Wish the silos would come down in your organization? Have only 3 hours to get “something” done with the team? Try this interactive, program for beginning the breakthrough to “teaming”.
In Her Own Voice™ - You’ve given much of your life to your work, your family, your friends, your community. Busy beyond busy. And now-it is your time. Time to come away. Discover the song you are now meant to sing and the life you are now meant to live.
Business Retreat – ALIGN, a Management Forum is a specific intervention which Eileen has designed to assist senior-level groups explore critical business issues.
Case Studies From Retreats:
Large State Insurance Company Undergoes Consolidation and Personnel Shifts
Situation: A major decrease in premiums and the emergence of new competitors forces a 90-year old organization to radically rethink both its operations as well as deployment of personnel.
Challenge: Keep employees focused and productive in a time of great uncertainty. Help managers know how to address sensitive issues with long-term employees who will be facing a not-so-brave-new world.
Solution: Based on her belief that leadership of self precedes leadership of others, Eileen crafted a two-day intervention to help the managers understand change cycles and their individual behavior during the change process. The second day, she had conversations with the intact work teams regarding concerns and actions they can take during the change.
Feedback: Managers reported more confidence in dealing with issues and what specific actions steps they could commit to with each other and their employees.
Senior leadership team shifts from conflict to alignment
Situation: An international organization suffered financial setbacks, resulting in a major reorganization, a new leadership team and an urgent need to regain lost ground in the marketplace quickly.
Challenge: The reorganization thrust together long-term employees and new employees, all seeking to understand roles, goals and responsibilities. The organization’s vision was unclear, communication spotty and interpersonal conflicts had erupted.
Solution: Eileen conducted three months of intensive research into pertinent issues. She designed a 2 1/2-day offsite retreat to help the leadership team focus on issues, gain alignment and understand individuals and their respective roles.
Feedback: Eileen’s methodology built-in so much team insight and perspective at the front of the process that the short timeframe for the actual retreat produced better-than-expected results. Departments aligned quickly, communication improved markedly and issues were addressed systematically. Eileen continues to gently monitor the organization’s process and provide coaching as necessary.
Contact Eileen at 949-496-8640 today to discuss how a retreat can make a real difference in your organization!
“What a wonderful and meaningful day-long retreat! The presentation was well-crafted to suit our personal needs as caregivers and demonstrated insight of “resiliency needs” while caring for the sick day after day. Our deepest thanks for the gifts of spirit you brought to us; we will never be the same again.”
- The Ministry Of Caring, Inc.
“Your woman’s retreat was full of important revelations for me and I highly recommend it to anyone. Even if you think you have clarity and know what to do, some surprising insights emerge. The first exercise helped me pinpoint a key idea that before the workshop, didn’t have words. The “I am” journaling exercise made those words clear and provided a newfound resolve to “stay on the path.” I especially valued the interaction of the women, hearing their stories, and being able to listen to our common issues. I was left wanting more time. I hope you will schedule these regularly so we can continue to support each other as we live out the path we’ve created. You’ve started something wonderful and I was delighted to be part of it.”
– Lorna Riley, President of Chart Learning Systems
McDargh Communications
(949) 496-8640
Eileen@EileenMcDargh.com
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