Forum Retreat Facilitation

Young Presidents' Organization forums, World Presidents' Organization forums and other small groups strive to offer a safe place where members can share the difficult business and personal issues in their lives, and receive support and counsel from the other members. However, the monthly meetings of these small groups rarely provide a forum for intimacy and vulnerability. Only at professionally-facilitated retreats can members tell their stories, "see" one another, and explore deep personal issues.

As a former YPOer, small group member and small group moderator, Jim Warner and his Associates offer expert facilitation of small group retreats. Since 1995 Jim has facilitated over 100 YPO and WPO forum retreats, plus ten YPO / WPO Navigating Transition seminars.

OnCourse Retreats are Highly Experiential and Focus On:

• Evoking greater awareness and transformative change in the lives of the individual members. Retreat discussions and experiences probe into heart-level topics such as members':



• Identity (Inside and Outside of Business)
• Blind Spots and "Shadows" (Self-Sabotage, Lost Energy)
• Marriages (Communications, Conflict, Intimacy)
• Passions and Emotions, Including Fear, Anger, Sadness, Unworthiness and Joy
• Spirituality
• Peace, Contentment, Significance and Fulfillment
• Life Transitions (Vocational, Relational, Personal, Marital, Spiritual)
• Parenthood
• Family Relationships (Father, Mother, Siblings)
• Sexuality
• Money
• Friendships and Relationships with Others
• Personal Mission and Sense of Destiny.


• Growing the small group as a safe, intimate community where members can safely explore the deep issues in their lives.
• Identifying and Facing:



• Conflicts or dysfunction within the small group
• Difficult business decisions or transitions where there is no clear answer.

Typical Approach

Jim Warner and one of the OnCourse Associates attend each retreat. Prior to the retreat participants complete a questionnaire and checklist that outlines their current personal and vocational situations, and any pressing issues or crises. This "homework" helps us develop a customized agenda for the retreat. Jim and the forum moderator collaborate to tailor the retreat's agenda to the specific needs of the group. This agenda often changes after the retreat begins, based on the flow of discussions and experiences, and member needs. For some retreats Jim also suggests that participants complete an online Leadership Skills and Shadows Assessment, a 360-degree assessment where group members evaluate themselves and each other across several areas of leadership strengths ... and leadership self-sabotage.

Once the retreat begins the customized agenda has the following general flow:

• Exercises to confirm / build safety within the group and deal with any issues or conflicts within the group
• Group-level exercises and experiences based on the common themes from the participants' homework (see the Topics list above)
• Individual participants have the opportunity to work through a difficult life issue or dilemma
• Sports, games or adventures, often outdoors, that have varying levels of competition and creativity, and strengthen trust and truth-telling within the group
• An integration session to help the group maintain the retreat experience at the meetings following the retreat
• Time for celebration and pure fun!

Following the retreat Jim often has regular communication with the moderator or group leader to:

• Strategize exercises and discussions for the group's ongoing meetings, and
• Deal with interpersonal dynamics among the members.

Characteristics of Forums Who Request OnCourse Facilitation

• Members support using outside facilitators
• Members agree to complete the retreat homework
• Members are open to deeper personal awareness – learning more about their passions, emotions, giftedness, blind spots and shadows
• Members seek deeper, safer, more honest, more intimate connection with one another
• Members are willing to partake in light-hearted games or friendly competition.

Retreat Duration, Location and Agenda

• Ideal Duration: 54 hours (e.g., 9:00 a.m.. on Day 1 through 3:00 p.m. on Day 3).
• Minimum duration: 30 hours (e.g., 9:00 a.m. on Day 1 through 3:00 p.m. on Day 2).
• Often, forums retain OnCourse facilitators for a focused 54-hour period during a 3-4 day retreat. This works well, especially if facilitators are involved at the beginning of the retreat.
• A retreat center, private residence or conference hotel, with a combination of:



• Privacy, total separation from other facility guests; ideally, we are the only guests (Jim can offer recommendations)
• A quiet, separate meeting area with at least 400 square feet
• Draped windows and a quiet HVAC system
• Two flip charts
• Living-room-like, open seating (sofas, overstuffed chairs); no tables (e.g., not a board room)
• The meeting area is separate from the dining area; food / drinks for breaks are available outside our room
• Easy access to nature (trails, streams, lakes, woods, beach, desert, mountains)
• Large open areas (for indoor or outdoor activities / experiences).
• All meals together, separate from other facility guests
• Flexible meal hours; simple, nourishing, quick breakfast and lunch; buffet format is best
• An on-site staff person to assist the facilitators (e.g., arrange a campfire, assist in the outdoor activities, find or purchase needed supplies)
• Facilitators can arrange travel to arrive at the facility at least three hours prior to the retreat

Topical Retreats and Other Specialized Retreats

Jim and the OnCourse team work with the forum moderator or retreat coordinator to conceive unique retreats that focus on a specific topic, theme or experience. Often, these include an adventure, competition or "stretch" component, taking members outside their comfort zones - where real growth occurs. Example exercises include: Forum Olympics, blindfolded kayaking, sweat lodges and eulogy visualizations.

to create a memorable retreat for your forum.