When planning a company strategy meeting we strongly recommend you get out of your office - whether it's in the next town over or across the country. Here are some tips for planning that offsite meeting. Keep in mind: less is more.
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Planning is key: Off-site meetings are most productive when the scope of the meeting has been narrowed and clearly defined. This helps leaders identify objectives for the meeting and reduces unnecessary tangents.
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Just the right amount of background: Preparation from all parties is key for a productive meeting. But don't overwhelm attendees with excessive pre-meeting reading or assignments. Instead of lengthy business plans or reports, create a fact book with crucial information.
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Who needs to go?: Smaller teams are best for making decisions. People who are not an integral part of the scope or strategy of the agenda will only impede the meeting's progress.
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It's a wrap: Be sure to send out meeting notes to all who attended and a list of deliverables with a timeline.
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The challenge: Implementation is the challenge...it is always where the strategy meetings fail. To ensure success, schedule ongoing regular meetings with all the attendees to go over deliverables and goals for the months ahead.
North Star worked with its client PLEXUS to develop their first offsite three-day Strategic Planning Meeting this past February. As a company that experienced very fast growth, it was critical that senior management meet offsite to focus on the short and long-term vision for the company. "Having uninterrupted time with my management team was a tremendous opportunity for me to share my vision for the company, hear their feedback, set priorities for the coming year, and get everyone on the same page. This will become an annual event for my team." -David Giardino, Vice President, PLEXUS Corporation
