Overworked, stressed out? Go on a retreat

Pressure cookers have a relief value-your car has a maintance schedule, what about you? It is time for a retreat- alone or with your key employees-

Column 112
10/5/2002
Entrepreneurship

     Are You Overworked and Stressed Out? Go on a Retreat

                "There can't be a crisis next week, my schedule is full." Henry Kissinger
                                                            Dr. Paul E Adams

Is this your morning? You show up at the office, you have a dozen phone calls to return, a slug of E mail messages to read, and too many employees wanting just a minute" of your time. If that is not enough to raise your blood pressure, you sit down for a `meeting with your key employees, and guess what? A dozen interruptions.

With your world demanding your every minute, how can you remain focused and manage your business in a sane and sensible manner? Dont look for help from those who write management books. Rarely do they have a dozen people nipping at their heels creating a tidal wave of distraction. If you are the typical entrepreneur you are not alone with the feeling that you can accomplish more after the office is closed and everyone has left.

If you try to manage in a whirlwind of distraction and pressure, you probably find it near impossible to put your energy into anything but the latest demands on your daily plate. Tasks such a planning and strategies for the future dont even appear on your horizon. Here is a solution to keep the dogs at bay for a day or so-take a break- as they say. You need a retreat. You need to get away, you need to think, reflect, and get calm. The answer? Give yourself a timeout, book a long weekend at a resort or hotel, and get away from the accumulation of enough daily tension that can unnerve Rambo.

You may be facing burn out. It is not an excuse to go on vacation, it is real. Clerics know- they go on retreats, and so do academics- they take sabbatical leaves. Not so for over stressed executives, they may go into therapy, have nervous breakdowns, or drown in booze.

Retreats are a way of recharging your emotional and psychological batteries, There are all kinds; spiritual, religious, self awareness, or self development. It is the perfect way to remove yourself from daily distractions and the pressures of running your business. Think of it as a pit stop to refuel your mind and rest your emotions. It is getting in touch with yourself; it is tapping into those inner-drives and dreams that sparked you to start your business. And it is refreshing and motivating.

Enlightened entrepreneurs use retreats to connect with key employees. They find that getting away encourages an exchange of ideas daily distractions discourage.
Try it. Take your key people with you -- no agenda- and spend three days with a free flowing exchange of ideas, suggestions, wants, needs, and feelings. It is my guess; you will head for home with recharged batteries, feelings of optimism, a team spirit, and a sense of accomplishment.

Leave your management skills at home. If you plan the event with lists of goals, a tight agenda and a ridgid environment. You risk, tension, frustration and boredom. It will not be a free flowing unhampered exchange of thought- it will be another conference.

As you read this you maybe thinking, it sounds good, but I dont have time. Plus I cant afford the hotel, meals and travel expenses. Good points, however, all pressure cookers have relief valves, and you and your management staff need one as well. Think about it, nothing can churn along continuously without a break. Otherwise expect a problem-

Do this- book Friday and Saturday nights in a modest hotel, arrive later Friday afternoon, have a warm up dinner, some informal chat and begin Saturday at breakfast, start off with some general questions about your business. Questions to encourage an open and frank discussion. Place complaints off limits. Your retreat is to be a positive experience for all- not a dumping ground of pessimism or woes. Two questions can say it all" What do we want our company to become." And, How are we going to make it happen."

As the leader, your biggest role is to listen- if it is monologue or a recap of your favorite pep talks, it will be a waste. You want participation, you want ideas, and you want a team that can be there for you and your company. You want them to volunteer their emotions and dreams to the success of your company. And if your retreat reaches to the inner-core of their wants and needs, they will.

By Sunday evening you will be talked out.    

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Dr Paul E Adams, Professor Emeritus Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey & Retired Entrepreneur. Author of Fail-Proof Your Business," Available @ Amazon Dot Com. Comments, questions, or suggestions to: xpaul@pikeonline.net