Space for Change: How Staff Retreats Help Welcome Transition
I admit it: I struggle with pivoting. Maybe it’s a cultural thing, a double Virgo thing, or just a me thing, but I can have a really hard time changing course. Everything from going to a restaurant different than the one I planned (I definitely researched the menu ahead of time) to moving homes (I am absolutely bringing all my knicknacks.) But when it comes to the social impact workplace, change is the key to growth. Organizational transitions–whether scaling down, up, or shifting strategy, are a huge opportunity to make your work and how you do it more sustainable and thereby more impactful. All-staff retreats are a key way to air out questions, tensions, and most importantly, get on the same page. So how can you get earth signs and others like us on board with a significant shift? Start by figuring out what you’re hoping to achieve with the change, what challenges might lay ahead, and make a plan to tackle them head on.
A couple of years ago, a major LGBTQ rights organization approached us to support a huge change. After decades of queer white leadership, they were excited to welcome a queer person of color as their Executive Director. But, they didn’t know what hurdles might lay on the road ahead or how to tackle them. After a thorough assessment, we created a retreat agenda that prepared them for their next phase together. The custom designed sessions focused on strategies to address common fundraising challenges for leaders of color, how board members could be effective allies, and finding a shared framework for the future. These tools helped them prepare for what had previously felt daunting by replacing uncertainty with shared confidence. Here are some steps to using a retreat to manage change.
“Do You Trust Me?” Baking-In Psychological Safety
Change is hard and it always seems to happen too quickly. Change can often be especially challenging when staff don’t have space to process it. Retreats help us slow down and bring everyone along, taking away that sense of imposition or powerlessness. At a retreat, everyone can be included in the process of change, even when it’s hard and even if they don’t agree with exactly what’s happening. By using a retreat space as a way of engaging staff in transparent conversation, reflecting on what’s driving the a transition, and planning what’s next, we can reduce resistance and build trust, specifically in leadership. When people see their concerns regarding change reflected back to them in a meaningful way, they’re more likely to embrace it.
Make Policy Meaningful
Retreats also provide the perfect forum to roll out new policies or initiatives. Policy changes announced at a common all-staff meeting or in an email are glanced over but never really land. When you introduce them at a retreat, people have space to ask questions, give feedback, and understand how the new structures connect to wider organizational goals and culture. Specifically, policies around equity, wellness, and accountability come to life during retreats because staff actually have time to engage with them together.
What Can You Do Together
A couple of years ago, a new client came to us in bad shape. The CEO had been calling people at 10pm at night on their personal devices. Women of color were experiencing unfair dress code policies. Communication occurred in team silos. As part of our larger change work, we facilitated sessions at successive annual retreats. After we wrapped our last retreat session, someone told us that new hires didn’t believe that the old, toxic culture existed. In other words, the culture had changed so much it felt impossible that it had ever been any other way.
After a retreat, the best feedback isn’t “that was fun” (though that’s great!) The best feedback is:
“I see where we’re going now and I can trust my boss/colleagues to get there.”
“We finally had the conversation we’d been avoiding.”
“We have a plan we’re actually excited to put into action.”
That’s the kind of impact that lasts long after everyone goes home.
Let’s Build Something
The pace of your social impact work and the demands placed on you and your organization may not change, but you can create ease by changing how you communicate and plan. Reach out for a retreat that will help you welcome a new direction. Popular workshops include:
Finding a Framework
Transformative Communication & Conflict
Building Accountable Equity
The Road Ahead