Book Description
Based on the best-selling first edition, this greatly expanded and updated version contains forty-seven new activities, more information about how to design and lead retreats, and additional suggestions for how to recover when things go wrong. A CD-ROM allows you to print out chapters for distribution to key leaders, duplicate templates, and produce handouts for specific exercises.
Whether you're planning to lead an offsite retreat for the first time or the ninety-ninth time, this easy-to-use, one-stop resource provides:
- Step-by-step instructions for leading a wide variety of tested exercises.
- Insight into establishing effective working relationships with clients.
- Information on what to include in your retreat designs.
- Suggestions for encouraging participants to speak up and play an active role.
- Tools for managing conflict.
- Guidance on making decisions during a retreat and changing course when necessary.
- Strategies for developing and implementing action plans.
- Tips for follow-up so you can keep the change train on track.
Order your copy of this practical guide today!
Customer Reviews:
This book helped me immensely.......2007-09-26
This book is really worth the money. Last year I was asked to faciliate a retreat for a nonprofit organization. I had absolutely no idea what to do or how to start. I researched many books on retreat planning, and Retreats That Work was far and away the most comprehensive and easy to apply. It walks you through interesting exercises that provoke real dialogue and inject energy into the process. I would have been completely lost without this book. The retreat was a complete success and I was asked to repeat the process this year. I recommend this book to novices and professionals alike.
What a great resource!.......2007-09-24
Even though I was trained at a local University in facilitation and have years of experience facilitating meeting and retreats, reading Retreats That Work took my skills to a whole new level.
I've been facilitating retreats of and on for about 18 years as part of my marketing consulting business, and I've always thought I was rather good at it. However, I just facilitated a strategic planning retreat for a professional services firm AFTER reading (in great detail) Retreats That Work, and it was by far the most professional, organized, productive and dynamic retreat I've ever facilitated. The thinking in the book is so very lucid and instructive, that using it as a reference allowed me to cover all of my bases and greatly increase my confidence and creativity.
From here on out, I am going to pursue much more facilitation work, because I feel I understand the process much better than before, and having this book on my desk makes me feel like I have a senior advisor available whenever I need it.
Just to let you know, there are numerous excellent retreat exercises that are categorized to help you choose the ones appropriate to different retreat types, there is a disk with printable resources, and throughout the book, there are numerous referrals to other professional resources that the authors have found useful. I really benefited from the author's thoughts on the consultant/client relationship and tips for managing client personalities and expectations.
If anyone else has ever read a professional resource book that is as good as this one (on almost any topic) I want to hear about it - this one is by far the best one I have ever read.
Retreats that Work: Everything you need to know..........2007-01-12
We design retreats for both large and small groups and needed to pass this knowledge on to others without our background and experience. This book was extremely helpful in providing some fundamentals that we were able to adapt to our clients needs.
A great help.......2007-01-10
I am periodically asked by my coaching clients to support them and their teams by conducting offsites. While I have had a lot of experience participating and doing offsites, this book has introduced me to some additional techniques and activities. I have found the book to be extremely helpful, complete, instructive and have recommended it to others.
Really helpful whether you're new to retreats or a pro.......2006-12-02
After using the first edition (Retreats that Work) for advice and how-to help when I planned my first executive retreat a few years ago, I was sold on the methods the authors describe to make the most of an off-site work session. Alas, I lent my book to a colleague and he passed it on to another. I went to buy another for the retreat I recently planned and was thrilled to find the expanded edition--even better than the first. The CD-ROM is a stroke of genius. Buy this book and you will look forward to planning a successful retreat because you will be so well prepared!
Book Description
Retreats That Work is a practical, easy-to-use guide, full of step-by-step instructions for leading a wide variety of tested exercises. You'll learn how to design and facilitate retreats that will keep participants energized and on-task. Campbell and Liteman know what can go wrong at a retreat and what to do about it. They know how to turn difficult situations around and how to deal effectively with conflict, difficult participants, and resistance to change. With Retreats That Work, you will too.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, easy to use, practical, good activities.......2005-07-29
Retreats that Work (Jossey Bass, 2003) is highly readable and valuable resource is a comprehensive guide to retreat planning. Authors Sheila Campbell and Merianne Liteman address medium- to larger-sized organizations in the for-profit, nonprofit and government fields. Campbell and Liteman offer both a "how to" for planning and conducting a retreat and a fine sampling of facilitated group activities for different kinds of retreats.
The overall message is that the top decisionmaker should hold a retreat only for important purposes, he or she must be truly ready to hear divergent views and to be open to real change, including change not anticipated by the decisionmaker. CEOs, boards, division directors and other "head honchos" that are not ready to share control need not apply. For instance, Campbell and Liteman recommend confidential pre-retreat interviews conducted by the facilitator. One of their retreat design principles is that at least some of the participants should contribute to formulating the goals of the retreat. To do so, they believe it is essential for employees to feel safe to share their views in planning the retreat as well as at retreat. Thus, Campbell and Liteman call for anonymity and non-attribution of pre-retreat views and assurance of no negative actions for expressing views candidly during the retreat.
A key strength of the book is the attention to pre-retreat and post-retreat concerns. Pre-retreat matters extend well beyond choosing the meeting facility and menu [although their retreat logistics chapter is first rate] to the more important question: "Why have a retreat?" Campbell and Liteman specify nine reasons to hold a retreat and ten reasons not to hold a retreat. Both lists are enlightening and are foundational to further pre-retreat work.
A retreat is not a conference and not a regular meeting. Campbell and Liteman believe a retreat is best served "off-site," that is, at a location away from the workplace. They do cover the challenges of time and money in choosing an appropriate facility, and the discussion reinforces two more of their principles of retreat planning - designing a retreat to result in action for change and ensuring whatever happens at the retreat relates to the day-to-day work of the organization.
Other pre-retreat elements are: setting the goals, deciding on the format, and inviting people; defining the roles of convener, facilitator, administrator, participants (and non-participants); and a review of fixed-format retreat designs (such as Future Search, Ropes courses, and Appreciative Inquiry). Campbell and Liteman do a fine job discussing the tension between having a small enough group for good interaction and the group being large enough to be inclusive of the key players. In particular, they offer eight common criteria for how to choose participants. I think the criteria are especially helpful as an organization thinks of board-staff concerns, clients or customer involvement in a retreat, and inter-organizational issues.
A logical, but often overlooked, planning proviso is to design the retreat backwards-What is the outcome you seek? Instead of holding a retreat because its done annually, or because someone likes a particular format, or to "boost morale," Campbell and Liteman forcefully highlight the need to have retreats only for special purposes, and to work from the question "How will the day-to-day workplace be different following the retreat?"
The structure of the book opens with coverage of the why, goal-setting, logistics planning and role of leaders at the broadest view of a retreat. From there, most of the guide is devoted to facilitator assistance. Campbell and Liteman cover design issues ranging from pre-retreat work for participants to having "unprogrammed time" as an essential part of a successful retreat. They offer tips on ground rules, giving feedback to the group, and decisionmaking. For in-retreat concerns, general facilitator principles are leavened with brief guidance on how to respond to over a dozen glitches (such as repetitive discussions, disruption by a participant, a participant walking out, or a senior manager violating the ground rules).
A large section of the book identifies activities appropriate for four kinds of retreats: a) strategic planning, b) culture change, c) relationship-building and teamwork, and d) creativity and innovation. Each activity offers a clear description, steps and facilitator notes. Equally valuable are accompanying sidebar notes on the experiential elements, set-up, special supplies and degree of facilitator experience to conduct the activity effectively (easy, moderately easy, or only for experienced/specialized training). While retreat facilitators will probably eat up this part of the book, I hope they don't overlook the earlier "menu-setting" essentials of effective retreats.
Campbell and Liteman know that typically the worst part of a retreat is....after the retreat. Does the great thinking from the retreat get lost in the daily grind or new crises? Do non-participants not support the outcome? While a retreat's impact depends on organizational norms outside of any retreat's reach, Campbell and Liteman nicely select a few post-retreat points. In brief: announce the outcomes to everyone affected, not just the participants; move briskly into the actions steps identified at the retreat; and avoid a letdown by offering a memento, having periodic updates, or celebrating milestones. They highlight "critical leadership actions" for retreat follow-up.
Campbell and Liteman know that retreats have a purpose within the larger context of an organization. They provide a fine guide the knits together the earliest hints of whether to hold a retreat to effective planning to post-retreat steps to offer the best possible assurance that the change initiated by the retreat is converted into a better organization. The book is a must-have for both the senior management and for internal and external facilitators. (...)
So good it showed me a retreat is not for us.......2003-03-17
This book is EXCELLENT. It is so good in fact that it showed me why a retreat is not for us. Instead, I am using the activities it describes to create a series of training sessions for our senior and middle managers, or what you might call a series of mini-retreats, a couple of hours each once a week over several weeks. The activities contained in this book are intelligent and fun, unlike several others I've read. I highly recommend this book for the activities section alone -- and if you do want to do a full retreat, it will prove even more valuable. Also, the sections on pre-interviewing participants and retreat design components were very helpful, and I am putting them to good use.
I also like "101 Games for Trainers" by Bob Pike, and "Games That Teach Teams" by Steve Sugar. I think these three books together are the best place to start -- there are a lot of other titles out there that are, in a word, garbage, and should be avoided.
Priceless advice!.......2003-02-04
This is a terrific handbook for anyone who wants to (or has been assigned to) organize or lead a retreat for their company or non-profit organization. The authors describe the guiding principles for designing a retreat, they outline the logistics in detail, and they provide all kinds of good advice about how planners and facilitators should work together to get the most out of an offsite meeting. The checklists alone are worth the price of the book, and the activities sections are priceless!
Beyond feel good: useful insights and exercises.......2002-12-17
This book gives examples of various kinds of retreats and includes sample exercises for each that are simple, creative, and effective with no hint of the flaky factor that makes some retreats go offtrack. In fact, I'd say that the section on "Reasons NOT to hold a retreat" was alone worth the price of this book for its value in clarifying what a retreat can and cannot do.
As a communications trainer with my own non-profit board to deal with, I was most impressed by the fact that the chapter on non-profits identifies as a "most common concern" exactly the thing that causes my board trouble -- complaints of micromanaging on details while sidestepping needs for fundraising. The insight that this is a structural problem rather than a personality issue has been extremely helpful to me -- even without a retreat -- and convinced me these authors must know what they're talking about.
Everything you ever wanted to know.......2002-12-06
"Retreats That Work" could be subtitled "Everything you ever wanted to know about retreats." Just a look at the table of contents told me that there was going to be an answer to any question I might have -- from the basic who, what, when, where and why, to the types of specialized retreats.
I am in a related, but quite different, field. As a qualitative research moderator, I am often asked to facilitate meetings or retreats by clients who are unaware of the differences -- hence, my interest in this book. But, whether you are working for a small or large company and want to hold a retreat, or you are someone needing to actually facilitate such an event, this book is a wealth of information. And for anyone thinking of facilitating a retreat or just understanding what a facilitator must be able to do, they would be advised to read the "definition" or role of the facilitator on page 116!
I found this book very well-written, easy to read and follow. It's filled with lots of practical information and tips, valuable time estimates for the various activities, and additional resources given.
The creative thinking section was particularly interesting to me. As a "left brain" person, I am usually skeptical of these kinds of activities. But the authors' examples and explanations of each exercise gave me a new appreciation for the value of this type of retreat.
I also visited the authors' or book web site, which is a nice accompaniment to the book, including additional resources.
Book Description
What we've heard about elders' meetings makes us cringe. Trivial agendas, power struggles, apathy and weak leadership. But the work of elders is too important to be conducted ineffectively. Rather, their spiritual strength and wise leadership should be driving the spiritual growth of the church.
Meetings That Work will help your bring vitality to your meetings and strength to your relationships as you work through the storms and struggles of normal church life together. Short and practical, this book will lead to immediate improvements in your elder meetings.
"As usual Strauch writes as a man with a deep heartfelt desire to see elders take seriously their responsibilities and lead the church forward to the glory of God. Every elder should take the time to read this good book." --
Christian Education and Publications
"Short and simple, this solid little book will be a valuable addition to any minister's library, especially if he will read and follow it!" --
The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Book Description
A well-organized and efficiently run business meeting helps employees share common aims and focus on goals. This book's advice includes ways to encourage group participation and teamwork, making best use of audiovisual tools, dealing with disruptive personalities at the meeting place, and wrapping up a meeting with a sense of shared purpose.
Customer Reviews:
Running Effective Meetings is Deceptively Easy.......2005-09-22
Some potential readers believe that they consistently run effective meetings. Therefore, these readers will conclude that a book about running efficient meetings is of no use to them. If these readers take the plunge and read "Running a Meeting That Works" by Robert Miller and Marilyn Pincus, they will most likely consider things they should have done differently. With much pragmatism, Miller and Pincus explore possible pitfalls that can occur throughout the meeting's lifecycle.
Written with the Audience In Mind!.......2001-10-26
If you're looking for a lengthy academic, tome on the subject of business meetings, this book is NOT for you. However, if you're a busy professional that hardly has enough time for pleasure reading, this is definitely the book for you.
The authors of "Running a Meeting That Works" have produced a practical, "to the point" guide for those required to run meetings. Recently appointed to the chairmainship of a committee, I realized that I needed to improve my ability to conduct business meetings. Only looking for this book out of a sense of urgent need (several meetings are on the immediate horizon), I was looking for a book that would be a quick and easy read and would provide practical advice that could be implemented immediately. This book clearly fulfills these requirements.
The book consists of 14 succinct chapters that are organized for the most part around bulleted or numbered lists. I have found that these lists can be easily reviewed and re-reviewed in order to recall key points. Additionally, the main ideas in the lists (generally the first sentence) are bolded or set off in different color font than surrounding text focusing the reader's attention on the main idea or concept.
In addition to being well written and organized, it is clear that the author / publisher / designer paid careful attention to the needs of the audience. Great job! Highly recommended!
OK book.......2001-09-10
This is an OK book for reference. But it's not a "must buy".
Meeting Management First Aid Kit.......2000-07-05
A few years ago, Industry Week estimated that poorly-led meetings cost American businesses over 37 billion dollars annually. The current number is undoubtedly higher.
This book is for all those who aren't getting the results they want from the meetings they lead. Since that is almost everyone, you're in good company.
Designed for those with limited training and expertise in this area, you may at first think the authors have overdone a good thing. I can testify from personal experience that the most successful meetings I chair follow each of the pieces of advice in this book. Obviously, if the subject isn't worth that much effort, you probably shouldn't be holding a meeting anyway. There's probably a better way to go. In fact, that's one of the suggestions that authors make: Only hold meetings when no alternative will do.
To get a sense of the book, here are the chapter titles: (1) Know your purpose (2) Why have a meeting? (3) Prepare what, who, when, here, and for how long (4) Prepare yourself (5) Prepare others (6) Who's in charge? Do's and Don'ts of Leading (7) Encourage participation (8) Dealing with difficult situations (9) Collaterial materials (10) Audio visual Assistance (11) Guest speakers are welcome (12) Wrapping up (13) Assess the meeting (14) Report results.
Each chapter begins with a quote from Alice in Wonderland (where many totally useless meetings occurred) to establish the problem. The chapters then go into the theory of why the step is important, the choices about how to take the step, and provides a useful framework to guide you through the process.
The only thing that I found missing from the book was some direction on how to get advice about how to make the meeting more successful while you are in the planning stages. Early input often can help you avoid big problems later.
With better-led meetings, you can have shorter and fewer meetings. This can provide the opportunity to have more time for being with those you care about. What an opportunity!
Get to the point!
This is a great business meeting primer!.......1998-10-21
Miller and Pincus hit just the right tone with "Running A Meeting That Works". The mood is light and concise. The reader is led through the meeting process in a "how to" format that is very easy to follow. It can be adapted to just about any type of private or public business. The standard format is presented on pre-planning, agenda making, dealing with conditions, topics and different types of audiences. I would have liked to have had more information on how to deal with difficult people, but I guess that's a different book! If you're looking for ideas on how to run a successful meeting, this book should do it for you. If you require more technical help on delegating, directing or team building, you will need to look elsewhere.
Average customer rating:
- Business writing that works
|
Read This: Business Writing That Works
Robert Gentle
Manufacturer: Financial Times Management
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Communications
| Skills
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Running Meetings & Presentations
| Skills
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0273656503 |
Customer Reviews:
Business writing that works.......2004-10-09
This book is for imediate results. The rate of return of reading it is high. It is divided in two parts: principles and applied principles. The principles are clear and right to the point. The examples offers pratical solutions in writing style and layout of presentations, letters, ads, e-mails,reports...For every example the author shows the wrong way of doing it (how we do it ) and the right way ( how we should do it).This makes this book an obligatory tool for anyone who writes papers, reports and presentations.
Average customer rating:
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Church Meetings That Work
Gaylord Noyce
Manufacturer: Alban Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Church Administration
| Ministry & Church Leadership
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Missions & Missionary Work
| Evangelism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1566991323 |
Book Description
Do you know how to raise your IQQ? (Intelligent Questioning Quotient!) It's not enough just to ask questions. It's knowing which questions to ask and how to ask them that gets you results--in the form of better information, enhanced career prospects, and more competitive organizations. Written by a seasoned business reporter and manager, this provocative "questioning manifesto" and practical "how-to" book gives people the insights and tools to ask effective questions that get results in every realm of their professional lives. It is also a powerful tool that will help business leaders create a progressive environment where questions flow freely and creatively--boosting knowledge and performance at all levels of the organization. Best yet, the book supplies hundreds of carefully crafted questions that readers can use to find the right job, negotiate salary and benefits, inspire creativity within a group, make a better presentation, get a promotion, and much more. When peple master the art of asking smart, meaningful questions, they not only make an excellent impression, they also improve their performance. In the words of the author: "Your success depends on what questions you ask. Workers of the world, question!"
Customer Reviews:
Excellent!.......2007-01-14
I have used this book to prepare for every type of interview. Applies to all types year after year. A must have and never becomes outdated. A lot pf thought went into designing this book. Will use for years to come...unlike others on the market.
Average customer rating:
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Church Meetings That Matter
Philip A. Anderson
Manufacturer: Pilgrim Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Church Administration
| Ministry & Church Leadership
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0829807527 |
Books:
- Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief (Roberts Rules of Order (in Brief))
- Secrets of Successful Speakers: How You Can Motivate, Captivate, and Persuade
- Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home
- Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric, Research Guide, Reader and Handbook (7th Edition)
- Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace (2nd Edition)
- Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace (2nd Edition)
- Successful Writing at Work
- Technical Communication
- Technical Communication (10th Edition)
- Technical Communication
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