The Necessity of a Mid-Year Reset
Photo Credit: Kevin Schmid via Unsplash
July sits between the excitement of January’s new beginnings and the rush toward year-end goals. Summer (hopefully) gives us something we rarely allow ourselves: the chance to step back and think.
The calendar actually gives us plenty of opportunities to start over with every new day, week and month. Then, each new year, we begin again. But there’s something different about the midpoint of the year. It’s a natural time to step back and ask a few bigger questions.
Where have we been? What have we learned? What’s changed? Where do we want to go from here?
Whether you’re leading a team or tending to your own development, this is an ideal time to retreat, reflect, and regain perspective before the second half of the year accelerates.
There’s no denying that we are living in a time of constant change. Things are moving quickly, and the pace shows no sign of slowing. Technology has and will continue to impact the very essence of the way everyone works and trigger more uncertainty, both personally and organizationally. With so much noise and commotion, it’s hard to think straight.
The Antidote?
It may seem counterintuitive, but step away from it all.
Most thoughtful people need time and space to think clearly, to know what’s coming and what to focus on next. They need to slow down, even when it seems like that’s impossible.
One of the most powerful things leaders can do to recapture some of that much-needed clarity is to pull back from their usual routines and take themselves, or their team, on a retreat. Whatever it takes, above all, they need to get out of the fracas and into clear air.
Everyone can benefit from a fresh perspective and a broader view. Teams especially need to build the capacity to see the larger patterns at play and understand the overall impact of their choices amid the rapid pace of change.
Leaders can’t afford to be constantly swept up in the minute-by-minute movements of their jobs and tasks. It’s important to take the time to see the forest for the trees. In his Harvard Business Review article, The Work of Leadership, Ron Heifetz emphasizes, “The only way you can gain both a clearer view of reality and some perspective on the bigger picture is by distancing yourself from the fray.”
We Try To Walk Our Talk
At Henley Leadership Group, we try to practice what we encourage others to do. A couple of weeks ago, our leadership team held its quarterly retreat in the mountains. Camping. Yep, you heard that right.
We received photos of their woodsy campsite, complete with campers and a picnic table covered in a checkered tablecloth. Shortly after the retreat, the employee team received a two-page update outlining what the leaders had reviewed, what they were still mulling over and some of the big ideas they were considering.
The lesson? These meetings don’t have to be dreadful. They are incredibly important. Leaders need time to get out on the balcony, or up on the mountain in this case, to see the bigger picture and reconnect with the organization’s purpose and mission. The day-to-day details of running a business matter, but without time to consider why we do what we do, they can narrow our view.
How to Make a Retreat Matter
If you’re considering a retreat, whether for yourself personally or for your team professionally, here are a few thoughts from our team:
Know why you are retreating.
Be clear about who should be there and why. Make sure those attending know why they’re invited and what to expect.
Design a retreat experience that embodies your vision and values.
Sprinkle in plenty of restorative activities like walks, writing, reflection, and laughter.
Create a physical environment that conveys the retreat's intention. Great food, music, comfortable chairs, and a connection to nature all matter.
Be willing to let go of your big ideas about the retreat so that what wants to arise can arise. Be curious and excited about what emerges, knowing that with the right people, environment, and intentions, miracles can happen. New perspectives can be found, big decisions can be made from clarity and higher ground, relationships can be deepened, and, as a result, so will trust, hope, and energy. Your people and company will all be better for it.
Follow your sensibilities, knowing when it’s time to lay a conversation down or pick one up.
Don’t create an agenda. That will be too much like your everyday meetings. Instead, set an intention about what you want to hear from the team at the end of the experience.
Do create a list of challenges you need to tackle, ideas you want to explore, and fun new sparks of projects or products.
Endthe retreat with some promises or actions, but only those that can truly be delivered. This matters. It makes people feel it was worth the extra time away from home and loved ones.
It may never seem like a good time to go on retreat. The demands of the business will always try to convince leaders that it just can’t be done.
Retreat anyway.
As we are at the midpoint of the year, resist the temptation to simply push through. Instead, create some space to observe. Reflect on what’s working, what needs to change, and what deserves your energy in the months ahead.
Get it right and, whether you’re retreating alone or with your team, you’ll emerge inspired, unified, and energized to take on the next big challenges around the corner.
Adapted from “10 Elements of a Great Retreat and Why Your Team Needs One,” by Dede Henley, Forbes, February 20, 2022.
How to Design Your Personal or Team Retreat
Regardless of the type of retreat you are planning, a little intention goes a long way. Use these questions to help make the most of your time together.
What is the purpose of the retreat?
Start with one question: Why are we doing this? Are you hoping to:
Reflect on the past six months?
Reconnect with your purpose or mission?
Strengthen relationships or team culture?
Solve a difficult challenge?
Take time to reconnect with your mission and set priorities for the months ahead?
A clear purpose helps every other decision fall into place.
While on retreat, consider making time to:
Appreciate where you’ve been.
Consider where you’re headed.
Read your mission statement and get back in touch with why you are doing what you are doing.
Make space for honest conversations.
Notice what is emerging.
Should every retreat end with an action plan?
Not necessarily, but it helps to leave with a few clear commitments. A short list of actions with clear follow-through is more valuable than a long list of good intentions.
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Not every retreat needs to involve the entire team. Consider who will be affected by the conversation, whose perspective or experience is relevant and who can help carry the work forward.
Ask:
Who needs a voice in the room?
Whose perspective might otherwise be missed?
Who will be affected by the decisions made?
Who will help move the work forward?
Who will be responsible for acting on the outcomes?
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The best retreat location is one that helps people think differently.
Consider:
A place surrounded by nature.
A quiet meeting space away from the office.
A walking retreat.
Even a living room or backyard, if it doesn’t put someone out, and encourages honest conversation.
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Balance conversation with reflection. Include time for:
Walking.
Quiet thinking.
Journaling.
Open discussion.
Laughter.
Shared meals.
Often, the most important insights show up between agenda items.
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Looking back
What are you personally most proud of?
What surprised you?
What have you learned?
What seemed like a good idea six months ago, but no longer does?
Looking ahead
What matters most to you now?
What deserves more of your attention?
What needs to change?
What opportunities might you be overlooking?
What would you like to accomplish over the next six months?
Continue Building Your Leadership Practice
If you’re looking for a team to help with your next company off-site or retreat, we’d love to talk.