With public speaking as the world’s number one fear, you would imagine that there was greater access and resources to affect its alleviation.
The most important thing when planning a retreat is the venue. The venue has got to be right. A busy hotel in the middle of town, hundreds of guests and noisy distractions will not create the correct ambiance for your students. Roads generate traffic, car horns and people desperately frustrated to get somewhere quickly.
So we need a venue which is secluded, small and out of town, ideally in rolling countryside. It must also be accessible by public transport and not too far away from a large town or city. The choice of venue will make or break your event. So being away from it all, surrounded by greenery has a profoundly calming effect. You want to create a reflective and calm environment for your class and they’ll appreciate that effort.
The main auditorium where you’ll be working should be light, airy and spacious. Some of the activities work well with tables and chairs, other activities require the group to work together in an open space. It’s best to arrange the details in advance with the venue, giving them student numbers and a detailed room plan.
In a perfect world, the venue will also provide suitably priced accommodation. This must be checked for appropriateness before you start advertising the event. If the venue does not have enough or suitable accommodation, then ask the question, is this the correct venue? Alternatively, you will have to visit and assess all the local hotels and B&Bs and ensure that they are going to be of the required standard for you guests.
This creates quite a burden in terms of time, collating information and putting it together as part of your information pack. However, as part of good customer service, if you do all of the preparatory work on behalf of your guests, it will help them come to the conclusion that you’re a serious business and that you care for their needs.
There is also the opportunity to identify a number of different types of accommodation at different budgets. Again, giving your guests options really shows that you care.
The next consideration is food. It’s not just an army that marches on its stomach. Again, in the ideal world scenario, the venue will be able to provide quality food on site, and manage special dietary requirements. If the accommodation is on site, it’s great if the students can eat together as it is part of the shared experience. If the venue doesn’t serve evening food, it’s useful to find a local pub or inexpensive restaurant where the students can dine and commune together. This togetherness is a major aspect of the group’s cohesiveness and should be key feature of the weekend.
The group dynamic is all important in this type of course. If you choose your venue carefully and plan the weekend thoroughly, chances are you will create a memorable learning experience for your students. Good luck!
