Why do I go on a retreat once a year

Reflect, tidy up, set goals. These five steps will help you successfully set your annual goals – as a team or individually.

Taking time to reflect, tidy up and set goals traditionally falls into the category of “I should do it” or “We need to do it again”. It is typically an important but non-urgent task that, if not completed, will not immediately lead to poorer results,  but will have a significant impact in the medium term. The Covid pandemic in particular has put an even greater focus on operational activities. There is not enough time for strategic work.

An annual-goals-retreat is relevant for everyone, whether as an individual, CEO or the entire team. It provides focus, energy and the opportunity to learn intensively from the past. The most difficult step on the way to an annual-goals-retreat is probably to set aside a certain amount of time. Therefore, in my private life or as an entrepreneur, I always like to use the period between the years.

1. Make time for a retreat

Take as much time as you need for your annual-goals-retreat. Often one day is not enough, sometimes even two. The right amount of time for you will come with experience. I recommend two days to start with.

A change of location also helps to break old thinking patterns. For example, I like to spend two days alone in a mountain hut.

The mountain hut also helps with the next point – digital detox. I leave my cell phone, laptop and other devices switched off. Especially after the 18 months of the pandemic, during which we were somewhat trapped in digital coworking, it’s good to have Post-Its, moderation cards and real pens in my hand again. When you get together as a team, you will also notice how the “emotional gap” of digital collaboration disappears.

Before the annual objectives meeting, make sure your physical well-being is taken care of. This means getting enough exercise, eating well and anything else you need to feel good.

2. Take time to look back

Take a conscious look back at the past year and ask yourself important questions. Or perhaps this is your first annual-goals-retreat and you are drawing a lifeline of your life so far.

  • What were the highs & lows of the past year?
  • What do I want more or less of in the coming year?
  • What goals have I achieved?
  • What goals did I not achieve? Are they still important to me?

You can also do a retrospective as a team or on your own using the agile principle. Most frameworks also work for longer periods of time, and in the end you should feel satisfied with the year and have gained important insights that you can incorporate into your objectives.

3. Use the time to tidy up

Say no! With all the ideas, projects and goals you have accumulated over the year, you won’t be able to implement them all anyway. Now is the time to ask yourself: What projects are really important to me and why? What has fallen through the cracks over the year and is that perhaps actually a good thing? Sort out the ones that don’t pass these tests! This is sometimes difficult, but the really important things will come back of their own accord.

Really successful projects are often those that are given sufficient energy and time. Methodologies such as the OKR framework help to maintain focus throughout the year and achieve real results.

4. Time to set goals

Getting goal-setting right is a book in itself. But here are some basic guidelines:

  • Choose the right time period. The annual-goalsetting-retreat focuses on medium-term (0.5 – 2 years) and long-term (3 – 7 years) goals. This is where you can capture your visions and identity while setting guidelines and milestones for your day-to-day life.
  • Break down your goals. Personal goals can be mapped to different areas of life, while business goals can be broken down into business units or roles.
  • What values and positions do you want to represent? What skills do you want to develop and what niches do you want to occupy?
  • Make your goals SMART. Your goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attractive, Realistic and Timed.
  • Be clear about your priorities. If you have to choose between two goals – which one will you choose? Give reasons for this priority so that in nine months you will still know what you were thinking and can decide whether you want to keep it that way.

5. Time for sparring and relationship management

Take time to nurture relationships. Whether as a team or with yourself the process of reflection is never easy. There will always be friction, and being at peace with yourself and the team at the end is a fundamental part of a successful annual-goalsetting-retreat. Also take time to realize where your strengths and weaknesses lie. The clearer you are about this now, the easier it will be for you to focus on them throughout the year. As a CEO and entrepreneur in particular, you should also take the opportunity to spar and have your thoughts challenged by someone whose opinion you value.

At the end of the annual-goals-retreat, a new clarity will emerge and the newly gained focus will help you to really make progress on your pre-defined goals.

I wish you lots of success and fun with your annual-goals-retreat and hope you are already looking forward to it as much as I am to mine 🙂

Benjamin Ruppel