Retreats That Work

Sheila Campbell and Merianne Liteman with Steve Sugar

Reviewed by Deena Epsten, The George Gund Foundation

2003, 336 pages, Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, 989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Retreats That Work is subtitled "Designing and Conducting Effective Offsites for Groups and Organization" but could just have easily been dubbed "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Retreats but Were Afraid to Ask." Or as the authors say in their introduction, the book is "for anyone who has ever had to plan an offsite retreat and wondered, 'Where do I start?'" and "for anyone who has convened a retreat and watched, stunned, as it careened off in unforeseen directions."

The book's opening chapters address retreat conveners and help them think about the basics — determining whether a retreat makes sense, setting goals and expectations, and handling physical arrangements and logistics. The straightforward text includes lists of everything from the difference between a retreat and a meeting to suggested leadership behavior during a retreat. This section also provides overviews of different retreat formats and techniques, such as simulations and Open Space, and tells readers where they can go for more in-depth information.

The mid-section of the book focuses on facilitators and their role in designing and leading retreats. Again, numerous checklists are offered including one on the top ten retreat design mistakes. This detailed section also includes advice on everything from handling conflict among participants to encouraging participation from all attendees. A variety of exercises and activities to address different situations and different groups are provided.

The final chapter, “The Convener's Guide to Keeping the Work of the Retreat Alive,” addresses issues such as announcing retreat outcomes and avoiding post-retreat letdown. The authors, who both head consulting firms and have conducted retreats around the world for groups ranging from the International Monetary Fund to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, also have started a Web site that will include additional resources.

Deena Epstein, The George Gund Foundation