Get Out To Get Creative

BursaSnipers

Publish date: Sun, 27 Oct 2019, 02:58 PM

8 Want creative output from your team? Consider the setting and an off-site meeting.

You increase the likelihood of innovative breakthroughs if you shake up the status quo. Rather than brainstorm in the conference room down the hall, try convening in a less familiar environment that’s far removed from the office. Instruct everyone to put their phones away and speak freely.

Introducing newness to your meetings can jolt participants out of the doldrums. Instead of adhering to a predictable routine, groups often thrive by interacting in different ways and adopting fresh perspectives.

“People are locked into their positions if you talk (in the office),” said Eric Schultz, author of “Innovation on Tap.” “When you go off site, people lose their inhibitions.”

To stage corporate retreats that spur innovation:

› Mix work with play. Under normal circumstances, employees may withhold a bold idea for fear of being ignored or mocked by colleagues. But if you have everyone playing soccer or rowing canoes with their co-workers and bosses, their guard goes down.

“There’s a chance to build community in an off-site,” Schultz said. “Schedule downtime and do a little social engineering so that you get people together” to encourage eye-opening dialogue.

› Stay active. Choosing a peaceful or stimulating setting for a retreat signals that you want attendees to detach from their workaday rhythm and think more broadly. But the impact will be muted if you remain in a confined space for too long.

“People like hands-on experiences,” said Penny Reed, president of Dental Coaching Institute in Memphis, Tenn. Part of her work involves organizing retreats for dentists and their staff to grow their business. She likes to “keep everyone moving” during off-site events, hosting activities and roundtable discussions as well as tours of businesses that model innovative practices.

› Pose questions. To maximize the odds of innovative output, help participants focus on what matters most. At the start, give everyone a list of inquiries to guide their thinking.

For example, Reed recently created five questions for attendees to ponder as they prepared for the next day of their retreat. Asking, “What strikes you as you tour the facility?” or “What makes the most (and least) sense from what you’re seeing and experiencing?” can stoke lively debates that lead to valuable creative output.

› Reinforce the goal. Beware of allowing an off-site gathering to lapse into an aimless series of roleplaying or gripe sessions. Set an agenda that complements your efforts to keep everyone on track.

“Start by asking, ‘Where do we want to go?’ so that there’s a purpose and a reason for what you’re all doing,” Reed said. “Make it clear we’re starting at point A and we want to get to point B. How do we get there? What will it look like? How will it feel to get there?”

› Pick the right venue. Place people in an environment that underscores the need for outside-thebox thinking. If you want to emphasize limitless possibilities, for instance, choose a beach resort where participants can gaze at an expansive seascape all day.

“Tie your venue to your goal,” said Caryn Saitz, founder of Global Events and Retreats, a Bostonbased firm that organizes corporate events. “If you’re in nature, that allows you to open their minds to the outside world.”

› Position yourself as an equal. Even if you’re the leader of your organization, don’t feel you must run the retreat. Underlings are more apt to serve up innovative ideas if you’re not acting like their boss.

“Bring in an outside facilitator,” Saitz said. “You should be part of it, not leading it.”

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