Reflections After a Great Retreat
I returned a few days ago from the 2011 Berrett-Koehler Authors Cooperative Retreat, at the Stillheart Institute, located among the redwoods, not far from San Francisco. Last year, after attending the 2010 retreat, I wrote about the benefits knowledge workers can gain from similar events. Here are some further reflections after this year’s experience:
1. Conferences/conventions vs. retreats. I love conferences, and there are certainly similarities with retreats. But consider the difference in scale between a place like Stillheart (and the locations of the two previous retreats) and a typical large convention center, where you spend a considerable amount of time each day in transit. There are often long waits in line at the lone Starbucks, and limited food choices. At Stillheart, the three communal meals a day were delicious and healthy, and coffee/tea and snacks were always available.
2. A sense of the “other.” Retreats, however structured, get you out of your routine and normal physical settings. Unless you live in or near a redwood forest, you’re not likely to be surrounded by this type of scenery in your daily life.
3. Seeing a different side of friends/colleagues. Each year a highlight has been the Saturday night talent show. I was knocked out by the comedic, singing and musical ability of some of the authors.
4. The element of surprise. Some of the best moments of the retreat came from listening to ideas in different session “threads” that I did not anticipate would be relevant for me. It provided a lesson in the wisdom of suspended judgment.
I am grateful to the BK authors who volunteered their time to organize another wonderful retreat. I’d love to hear other thoughts on the benefits of a retreat, especially from the people who attended this year.
Bruce’s Twitter Feed
September 15th, 2011 at 11:09 am
Bruce, good post. I espeically agree about the meals. So much good info exchange and dialogue occurs at meals. I sometimes like to be the first to sit at a table and see who decides to sit with me. Amazing thigns happen.
September 15th, 2011 at 11:16 am
Thanks, John; a great point about the meals. I’ll remember that idea about being the first to sit at a table. I think there is a hidden unease that no one will join us, so that is really admirable!
September 15th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
When you provide the best context human beings show up to be extraordinary creatures…imaging if the world functioned like the retreat…we do have enough resources…just a distribution challenge! Thanks for the post Bruce!
September 15th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
You’re welcome, Stewart. I agree with your comments, and love the idea of the distribution challenge!
September 15th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
thanks for the reflections Bruce. We missed being there this year so is nice to hear it went well. I always like seeing folks as real people instead of their role.
September 15th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
You’re welcome, Emily. I hope to see you, Dick and David again before too long. Seeing real people instead of their role is a powerful insight-thanks!
October 3rd, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Thanks for sharing this, Bruce. I was sorry to miss the retreat this year and it’s nice to get a sense of it.
October 4th, 2011 at 8:34 am
You’re welcome, Jesse; hopefully I will see you at the 2012 retreat!
October 19th, 2012 at 10:02 am
[...] Life, I have attended the inspirational BK Authors Cooperative Retreat, which I blogged about in 2011 and 2010. Once again it was held in a lovely setting, the Trinity Conference Center (which [...]