Team retreats

Re-Think (Noun, verb)

1. To discover different, better, or new ways of approaching familiar problems and situations
2. To develop a range of methods of achieving this
3. To have the courage to put these ideas into practice

Ref. Barlow’s Creative Dictionary, Oxford, 2006.

This practical and accessible book has 20 major Re-thinks and scores of tips, experiences, and activities that can be instantly applied to your unique situation: individual, family, team, or organization.

To order Re-Think, contact Nigel . Or buy Re-Think from amazon.co.uk.

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Team Retreats

If you have a new team or new challenges and need to re-focus on your strategy, business objectives and priorities while improving commitment to winning team behaviour, perhaps it’s time you took your people for an off-site 'Batteries Included' team event, with focus, principles and style.

Focus

The focus of the event is to make real business decisions in an atmosphere of clear and coherent thinking. Nigel Barlow has 17 years international experience in conducting Strategic Team Events. These are also co-run with Nigel’s colleague, Ian Taylor. Nigel has run sessions in Australia, America, Europe and South Africa, and often uses venues like the Aravis Alpine Retreat in the French Alps. Here full business facilities are available and top teams from organisations have the option to ski for a couple of hours in the mornings followed by making real business decisions in a totally relaxed atmosphere.

The French have an expression for this – reculer pour mieux sauter – which loosely translates as ‘pull back in order to jump forward more successfully’. It’s hard to achieve this in an airport hotel!
Principles

The principles involved in designing successful events include:

Real business issues on the agenda - not just building Lego towers!
Active partnership with the team’s manager or champion
Mutual trust and appreciation are the keys to great team behaviour
An off-site relaxing environment
Understanding the main challenges / problems and opportunities / morale issues facing the group
Working creatively together should be fun!

These events tend to work best when:

There’s a new boss, or a new team
There’s a new business challenge
Following, or just before, a reorganisation, restructuring, downsizing or merger
The team needs a reward, rest and re-focus!

Style

The style of the sessions is highly interactive, using a cocktail of dynamic inputs, small group work, coaching and active facilitation. A psychometric inventory on problem-solving style if often used and ideally team members are interviewed before the event. Each session is tailored but the common ingredients are:

Analysis of the team's problem-solving style
Creative team working: appreciating and understanding each other’s roles and contribution
Innovative thinking tools for tackling business challenges
Application of tools to the team's current business agenda
Strategies for ensuring implementation of ideas generated

"Nigel's understanding of our company culture and business, combined with his solid background in teams, and the way in which teams work gave us a structured way to achieve results, better understanding of ourselves, and improved communication between us all. He makes statements based on facts, not only fancy words; his presentation was very balanced and included good teamwork activities. He is an excellent communicator and fun to work with!"

Annica Lind, Manager
Headquarters Personnel, SKF Human Resources

"A lively and enthusiastic presentation, encouraging participation and easily revitalising our ‘after lunch’ audience. Nigel is a focused yet relaxed speaker, confident of his subject matter. We would be happy to use his talent again."

Brian King, Franchise Director
'Excellence, The Customer, And You' for Greenalls Inns Partnership

Service Legends

from inspiration to implementation

Re-Think (Noun, verb)

Team Retreats

Focus

Style