4 ways to create a virtual leadership offsite

By

Visibility Co

What would it look like if you shrugged off COVID and lockdown mindsets and mixed your workplace with a luxurious retreat ... and work-time with play-time; hustle-time with me-time?

[Probably something like our virtual leadership retreats.]

People need connection now more than ever. The research is emerging and clear: working remotely has had a negative impact on the quality and depth of leaders’ relationships with one another, and that has wide flow-on effects within organisations (they become more siloed) and into the outside world (it impacts performance).

The thing is, building social capital and elevating leadership impact is still possible in this weird, locked-down, locked-in COVID world… but only when decision-makers get creative and make space to focus on what's important.

That's what we're seeing amongst the clients and teams we are working with. Many people are physically separated from their colleagues. Others are socially distanced. Almost all feel emotionally distanced. So what can we do?

In non-COVID times, if we needed to connect or work on strategy, we'd start with getting people together: to spend time, get to know one another as humans, make space to do the important thinking, and to check in. So why not that now - just in other forms?

We know it's possible, because we're doing it every week with leaders, teams and organisations. We're sticking our fingers up at all the "not possibles" and creating "new possibles" by leveraging the best that technology, our own spaces, and pure creativity can offer us.

The 4 ways we make virtual executive retreats fulfilling

1. Make the space

We support leaders to make proper space for prioritising their leadership and connecting with their peers by creating retreat-like conditions in their own homes - or even check-in to a hotel solo if that's possible!

2. Make it memorable

We make the online experience really memorable and special by sending care packs, food packs and special surprises to leaders' homes and workplaces.

3. Make it energising

We help people to rejuvenate - not evaporate - as part of the work, incorporating nap breaks, music, mindfulness, movement and getting people to make the full use of their space: working on the floor, in bed (yes, pyjamas allowed) or outside.

4. Make the most of virtual

We use technology in weird and wonderful ways to spice up the engagement and draw out new ways of being that are not always possible in real life  - such as “get-to-know you roulette”, individual to shared exec vision-setting, storytelling and creative collaboration

We've been running programs online for at least 5 years, so COVID didn't come as a shock in that regard. We've just upped the innovation.

And the feedback is amazing. The CEO from a large health organisation, which is right in the thorniest part of COVID management, messaged us after a recent two-day exec retreat, saying:

“We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Jules and Sarah. As an executive, we had been struggling to find connection, and our two-day retreat enabled clarity, connection and a clear and committed shared executive vision to be established, bringing us closer together as a team. So many “hell yeah” moments created and we left with enthusiasm and vigour with our endless possibilities!!”

Get in touch if your team needs some nourishment, trust-building, strategic direction, bigger-picture team work or just a connection-enhancing circuit breaker.

About Visibility Co.

Working at the intersection of leadership, strategy and visibility, we seek to be strategic provocateurs and catalysts of systemic change, supporting you to unleash the potential within so you can create a better world from wherever you are.

While we’re not big on labels, we’re often referred to as social impact and communications strategists, or strategic leadership advisors, or visibility experts.

Fancy words for a business, led by Julia May and Sarah Anderson, that brings together purposeful leadership, strategy and communications in truly integrative and innovative ways.

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Thank you! You are signed up to our mailing list and will receive your Vision Mapping for Purposeful Leaders e-book in your inbox shortly. So do add us to your SAFE list to ensure it doesn't go to spam. We'd love to hear how you go with your vision setting!
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