Meeting & Retreat Facilitation
Strategic Offsites That End With Real Decisions
IdeaGuides plans and leads your offsite or board retreat so your team leaves aligned, with clear goals and an action plan everyone owns.
- Neutral facilitator, so every leader can join the discussion
- 1 to 4 days, on-site, off-site or fully remote
- Custom agenda built from interviews and surveys
Over 25 years, 150+ clients and 250+ projects, including Sony, BASF and CBRE.
Prefer to talk? Call 1.415.479.2028
Plan Your Strategic Offsite
Tell us about your group and goals. We will follow up to discuss the right design.
Why Teams Bring Us Into the Room
You lead, we run the process
You take part as a leader instead of running the agenda. We keep the group on task and on time.
Every voice is heard
Our sessions are highly interactive. Quiet members contribute, so decisions get real buy-in.
Decisions, not just discussion
We use proven processes to move a group from ideas to clear choices and next steps.
An agenda built for your goals
We interview participants and survey the group first, then design the offsite around what your team needs.
Experienced guides
Our facilitators have led strategic planning, retreats and alignment sessions since 1999.
Wherever you meet
We facilitate on-site at your office, off-site at your retreat location, or remotely.
What a Facilitated Strategic Offsite Looks Like
A strategic offsite works best when someone outside the team holds the process. We guide your group through reflecting on the past, defining mission and values, looking at where you stand today, picturing the future, then setting goals and tactics.
Board retreats follow the same structure, shaped for a board's role: shared direction, clear priorities and goals the group agrees to carry out. Sessions run from one to four days, and we can add team building, conflict resolution or role clarification where the group needs it.
- Executive retreats and leadership offsites, also called advances, from 1 to 4 days
- Strategic planning facilitation for senior leadership teams, 1 to 3 days
- Groups from 5 to 500 people
- Design based on pre-session interviews and surveys
- Visioning, goal setting and tactics that turn into an action plan
- Role clarification, conflict resolution and team alignment work
- Large group methods including Open Space Technology, World Cafe and Appreciative Inquiry
- Delivered on-site, off-site or remotely, anywhere in the US
Trusted by Boards, Executive Teams and Agencies
“Our management group came together around a shared vision. We are currently integrating two companies into one. This meeting helped to reduce the we/them and increase the us. Optimism, increased teamwork and confidence in the direction of the company. Top-Three- I would recommend this service. The tools and methodology the Bruce uses are very effective. He brings everyone into the process and helps drive the discussion to a consensus. like_working_with_me?: Bruce is easy to work with, professional in his approach and an excellent communicator.”
“This planning session absolutely met my expectations. Bruce was kind and courteous. He was very effective at keeping the participants engaged and on task. The board came away from the session with good direction and attainable goals.”
“Significant cross-disciplinary discussion, alignment, and outcomes were achieved”
How We Get Started
Tell us about the offsite
Share your group size, dates, location and what you want to walk away with.
We design the session
We talk through your goals, interview or survey participants, and propose an agenda and facilitator.
We facilitate and report
We guide the session, then document the outcomes so your team can act on them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a facilitated offsite cost?
Pricing depends on the length, group size, location and how much design work is needed. Send us your details and we will quote the session.
How long should a strategic offsite be?
Executive retreats typically run 1 to 4 days. Strategic planning sessions usually run 1 to 3 days. We help you pick the right length for your goals.
Do you facilitate board retreats?
Yes. We facilitate strategic planning and retreats for boards, executive teams, non-profits, government agencies and educational institutions.
Where do you travel?
We are based in the San Francisco Bay Area and work nationwide, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Houston and Las Vegas.
Can you run the offsite remotely?
Yes. Sessions can be delivered on-site, off-site or remotely, including for virtual teams.
Do you help plan the agenda, or just show up?
We design the session with you. We use interviews and surveys before the retreat so the agenda fits your team, and we provide a report of the output.
Make Your Next Offsite Count
Tell us your dates, group size and goals. We will show you how a facilitated strategic offsite or board retreat can get your team aligned.
- Neutral facilitator, so every leader can join the discussion
- 1 to 4 days, on-site, off-site or fully remote
- Custom agenda built from interviews and surveys
Prefer to talk? Call 1.415.479.2028