Below you can take a closer look at what we offer.
Split into an initial 3 days and then about 10 weeks later, a further 2 days, our flagship retreat takes you beyond the confusion to clarity. Starting with the stories we tell about ourselves and our past, we look at them to spot the trends and themes that will create our Next Chapter, renews us to be at our best and most fulfilled. After some Preparation work, part 1 looks at what happens if we retell our stories from a different perspective and what that shows about our values and priorities when we’re at our best.
These help create your LifeStoryCanvas, with the strands for your NextChapter. After some weeks for further thinking and planning, part 2 helps you write that Next Chapter and an action plan to help you live it.
Upcoming Retreat Dates
How much money have you spent on team building and strategy away days in the past? We bet if you look back over the years it’s been significant? What tangible ROI has been delivered from this spend? Staff engagement, productivity, happiness and contentment, did it increase?
In our humble opinion team and strategy away days are notoriously very hard work, crammed morning to dusk with Powerpoint presentations, trying to move everyone in the right direction, discussions and action plans (which are rarely actioned!).
Business leaders and senior managers are working longer hours than ever, they have taken to working in unproductive ways which have diminished their energy and contribution.
What’s worse is that it’s happened slowly and unnoticeably to the point where burnout and languishing are ‘normal’ ways of being. There is no criticism we’ve all been surviving and trying to get through but it’s taken its toll.
Not only that, but we’ve been cut off from each other. Of course, there have been the endless Zoom meetings, which at the time were certainly better than nothing, but now that we’re meeting face-to-face it makes us realise how much we’ve missed. Senior management teams have become quite dislocated and disconnected from each other, operating at a transactional level rather than in an engaged committed way which would be required of them.
What has also emerged is the extent to which company cultures have been damaged by lockdowns and working from home. Teams have been able to point to aspects of the culture which have enabled them to perform at their best and then followed up with the observation that these conditions existed before the pandemic. Many people are realising that cultures are having to be rebuilt.
Residential Retreats offer the opportunity for senior management teams to reconnect in order to do this.
We call these our ‘Team Retreats’. Completely bespoke and personalised to you, your business and your objectives. Different from our individual retreats which are ALL about you.
Our retreats offer time and space in an environment which promotes relaxation, being able to connect with others in the outdoors for example. We heavily discourage any looking at emails or business phone calls and while it’s hard to switch off initially, gradually people are grateful for being able to go off-grid for a few hours. One of our recent retreat participants had this to say https://youtu.be/NBYTP9XWnVY
We’ve worked with one team for four years now and have seen members of the team come and go and those that have stayed gain in experience and insight. They know exactly what is on offer at each retreat and look forward to it and value it immensely. Their MD invests in it as he has seen the effect on the business: retention and development of valued staff, increased understanding of what the business is trying to achieve and how they can contribute. Over and over again, we have seen the motivational effect of this investment. (Interview with Matthew).
What’s the state of your senior management team? Burnt out? Languishing or flourishing? If they’re not flourishing, you’re not getting the best from them. Have you got people you’re worried about losing? Is your senior team motivating the staff effectively? Why not think about investing in your team with a retreat? We can tailor these to our needs but what we have found works well is two days and two nights in a good hotel with a combination of structured activities, discussion and goal setting.
Contact Hilary or Peter today to discuss your team and how we can write a Team Retreat just for you to meet your objectives and finally pay back in ROI. If you want happy, healthy, rounded and committed Senior leaders, who will cascade and flow that positivity to the wider teams, look no further than Next Chapter Retreats.
What does the next stage of your life consist of?
Are you clear on the story you want to play out?
This is for anyone who wants to start writing and living the next stage of their life – whatever it might be.
Located in the breathtaking beautiful West Coast of Ireland in County Kerry, these two days provide so much more than simply two days away from the busyness and pressure.
After a reception and welcome meal, the first full day starts with a morning visiting local sites, where a local storyteller brings to life local folklore stories before free time to think, walk, and explore.
In the afternoon, the spotlight shifts onto our own stories, those we tell to others about our life, our work, our past, the special moments and celebrations, along with the opportunity to write a short piece.
Then in the evening, over drinks and supper, Irish authors share their insights into stories and the place they occupy in all our lives.
The next day is devoted to examining the previous afternoon’s stories and the impact they’ve had on us and those around us. What does this tell us about when we’re at our best, full of energy and joy – knowing we’re on track. And how do we get from here to there – with practical steps to stay there?
Next Chapter Retreats give you the time, space and attention to write your next chapter.
Upcoming Retreat Dates
Our flagship retreat is five days, initially three days followed by a 10-week period of reflection and concluded in a final two days. We also run mini 2 day retreats as an introduction.
What’s included in your retreats?
Everything! Luxury accommodation, food, drink and a fully immersive period of discovery to allow you to write your next chapter…
How long are the days?
We work together for the majority of the time starting at 9am and working through to 3.30/4pm. We then have free time in the afternoon for you to enjoy the facilities before a 6.30pm meet for drinks and supper. Whilst we cover a lot of ground these days are quiet days, away from the rush of life, to reflect, think, search and take stock.
How big are the groups?
Maximum eight people, minimum four plus Hilary and Peter and possibly one other associate. These are intimate groups of trusting and like-minded individuals. Our vetting process is detailed and if accepted onto one of our retreats we have codes of conduct for our participants.
What do we do in these days?
We’ve spent years developing our process and we still refine and refresh it and change elements based on the day, the participants and the energy in the room at the time.
We work to a structure and we reveal a series of activities that work in collaboration across the days to arrive you at a point of finding your purpose, your values and what’s important to you. We explore the past (but without being intrusive), we help you rewrite stories that have defined you, we share stories and we nurture your thinking to uncover the best version of yourself. There might be moments of realisation or there might just be a quiet and slow uncovering of your true self. People react in different ways and at different paces but what you will uncover is your deep purpose that defines your future self and leads you to that all important next chapter in your life.
We talk to Belinda Prescott-Collins, Managing Director of Bee Herd, a successful and growing Marketing Consultancy, about her personal experience of attending our flagship retreat. Belinda talks about the benefits she gained and why our retreats are so valuable to senior business executives.
Our retreats offer time and space in an environment which promotes relaxation, being able to connect with others in the outdoors for example. We heavily discourage any looking at emails or business phone calls and while it’s hard to switch off initially, gradually people are grateful for being able to go off-grid for a few hours.
Registered Office: Castle House, Castle Street, Guildford GU1 3UW
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