To get things done you need a plan. But good plans can be hard to create. If you are striving for clarity, meaning and direction in your career, find the time and space to do this with People Who Do this year.

Our planning retreat runs over two days with an overnight at the beautiful Hawthbush Farm there is time to reflect, consider and plan.

Join us in the heart of the Sussex countryside to:

• Learn to understand what drives you forward and holds you back.
• Raise self-awareness and understand the reality of where you are, and want to be.
• Design a plan that will allow you to work towards the things that really count in your work, and personal life

Who is it for?

Participants come from a range of backgrounds. Typically they will be business leaders, senior managers or working for themselves. They may or may not have families and partners. Some come looking for space to think, reflect and shape their next few months. Others have choices they need to make. Each participant works with the facilitators using a range of tools, 121 discussion and group work to follow their own path. Individual outcomes from the retreat may differ. Everyone benefits from the exposure to other people’s experience.

What you’ll get from it

• Understand what you want to do and why
• Review your career objectives
• Work on your key issues and barriers
• Identify and develop a sense of purpose
• Learn new approaches to think critically about how and what you do
• Place self awareness at the heart of what you do
• A detailed plan for the next few months
• Leave refreshed, reengaged and motivated
• Confidence and clarity
• Fun! And muddy boots

How we will work

Structured small group sessions and 1-to-1 work are combined with fine food, luxurious accommodation, country walks and relaxed drinks in inspiring surroundings. We’ll work together to review the past, separate opinion from fact, identify barriers and pin down risks to help you achieve what you want in a way that aligns with your principles and connects with your beliefs. You will leave the retreat with greater clarity on the path towards your goals, and how to get there.

Our approach allows you to focus on yourself in a supportive environment while shaping the retreat to your emerging needs. Groups are small with no more than six participants and are supported by expert facilitators.

Please bring outdoor clothing and appropriate footwear.

What people think

Here are some of the comments made by recent participants:

The thing that surprised me was the benefit of (working) in a group. Getting strangers to open up, share, and ultimately start supporting each other in a couple of days was amazing, and beyond expectations. Whether this was because of group self selection, or good facilitation I’ll let you decide! But it was great to feel like other people were going through similar experiences, or even different ones, but all set against a backdrop of common human values and aspirations.

Alisdair Reid – Red Design

Now I’ve had a weekend to ruminate after last week’s retreat, I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you hugely for last week. It was pretty much perfect from my perspective – location, food, company, outcome. I think you’ve got a really good thing going there and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other people.

It’s kind of weird going into something not knowing what the outcome is going to be – especially for someone with a very logical mind like me – but somehow you got us there! That is to both Steves’ great credit. So, once again, big, big thanks.

Alex Cowell – Cubeworks

I really enjoyed the retreat; I didn’t really have any pre-conceived ideas about (it)… I feel less overwhelmed and more confident about offloading things I was holding onto.

Rebecca Kimber – Create Internet

I really enjoyed discussing things with the two Steves and the others on the Retreat. It was just as important to hear about other peoples circumstances/ problems as it was to talk about my own. The discussions and exercises helped me to see clearly what things are most important to me in life. I was previously worried that maybe I needed to make lots of changes to my unusual lifestyle, but I now feel reassured that I’m already doing what I love; so why fchange and be more like other people and have kids etc!

Matt Ford aka DJ Format

The venueHawthbush Farm is a 140 acre organic farm in the heart of East Sussex. Toby and Lisa are working with Natural England under the Higher Level Stewardship scheme to protect our species rich meadows, ancient woodlands and enhance birdlife and butterflies.

Tucked away down a long farm track, and situated next to the family home, the holiday cottages have been converted from an old piggery and cowshed to offer eco-friendly accommodation in a beautiful countryside setting.

Facilitators

Steve Stark

Director of People Who Do, an organisational and personal development consultancy that seeks to make work better. Steven has 15 years experience working in the creative industries at director level. He has founded, built up, bought or sold nine terrestrial and digital radio stations, led an audio production company, launched and run a music festival and consulted for clients ranging from Virgin Media and Haymarket Publishing to The Department of Health and Local Authorities as well as private residential care homes and silversmiths. He has extensive experience of working with SME’s to improve productivity and working environments. In his spare time he shares the childcare, keeps a smallholding and looks after bees. You can read more on LinkedIn.

Steve HearsumFounder of Deboxing: organisational development and change, specialising in making work relationships work. Steve works to ensure change is simultaneously aligned at organisational, team and individual levels. He has over 20 years experience working in publishing, media, telecoms, SMEs, public sector and third sector, the last 10 years as an independent practitioner. Clients include The Guardian, Bauer Media, EMAP, Pitney Bowes, Teachers TV, NHS, BT and the public sector.. Core to Steve’s work is the belief that human beings are social and relational, and that the quality of our relationships affects our experience of ourselves in subtle and profound ways. Steve lives in Brighton with his family and an unhealthy obsession with the art of making coffee. There is more about Steve on LinkedIn.

Costs and Dates

The Planning Retreat runs over two days with an overnight stay. All food, drinks, materials and accommodation are included but not transportation to the venue. You can download a summary here. Costs are as follows:

Sharing a twin room (shared bathroom) – £800 + VAT

Private shepherds hut (shared bathroom) – £1000 + VAT

Private room (some ensuite) – £1,200 + VAT

Next retreat: January and March 2013 exact dates depending everyone’s availability

To Book

Call: 01273 252550

Email: do@peoplewhodo.co.uk