Conferences & Retreats

The majority of professional service firms like to hold an annual retreat. The challenge is usually on to identify the sort of topics which will be of interest to the partnership and challenging enough to hold everyone's interest for a day or two. Sometimes such conferences are focused around particular issues, such as strategy or vision development or review or even important governance related issues. One thing is certain, they are time-consuming to organise and commit very busy professional partner/directors to being tied up for a day or two, usually on a weekend. It is imperative therefore that good value is achieved.

"Retreats for professional service partners/directors are a strange one. Everyone insists there has to be one every year, but equally many show disinterest in what is covered and complain about having to give up precious weekend time to be there.  There is usually more interest shown after the fact commenting on what didn't pan out well and what wasn't achieved. Sound a bit negative ? Unfortunately it is too often true.

This is why it is important that every retreat and conference results in real value for the firm concerned. This requires careful planning, consultation, recognition of the firm's priorities, pre-retreat briefing, interactive discussion at the retreat and a well documented result made available soon after the retreat. Ideally, there should also be follow-up in 3 months or so to ascertain whether what was decided was going to be done has in fact been done."  Sean Larkan, Chairman, Authentikos

Authentikos has direct experience of organising such retreats and will work closely with a firm's leadership and senior management to work up a suitable program to ensure real value to a firm. 

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