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We all love a weekend away —even more so now that the world has started to reopen and travel is becoming more possible. What I love most about travel is the ability to completely submerge myself in a new environment, and turn off the daily stressors of life back home. 

So why don’t we practice this when it comes to one of the most stressful parts of our lives—our career? I’m not talking about not checking email on weekends (even though I agree that you shouldn’t!). I’m talking about gifting yourself the peace of mind of a personal career retreat to reset, rest, get inspired and look up for the to do list long enough to plan for the future.

Before you start yelling “I’m way too busy for that!”—I know. You are! And that’s exactly why you should prioritize it.

When we are burned out, bored, or simply drowning in tasks at work it’s an indication that we need some realignment. If you manage other people, you need one even more to ensure you’re being intentional, considerate, inclusive and supportive.

Remember when you entered your current job all starry eyed and ready to make a difference? That’s how you show up when you’re excited…and a retreat can help you get back in touch with the starry-eyed you of years ago. 

The setting, refreshments, and dress code are up to you—but there are a few things all career retreats should incorporate.

  1. Reflection: Research from 2018 shows that the more leaders of any level practice active reflection like journaling or listing, the more energized they feel. Yes, reflection can prevent burnout and even reverse it! Plus, as your mind is processing, it empties space for you to be more creative—suddenly you’re jotting down more ideas for how you and your team can thrive. I don’t want you to just reflect about anything, though—this research I just mentioned shows that specifically reflecting on who you are as a leader is what will keep you engaged and present in your work (Lanaj,Foulk & Erez 2018). Even if you aren’t someone who feels like a leader yet, it’s never too early to define what you want to be.

  2. Evaluation: You have to find time to take an honest look at how you’re showing up in the role, not just what your intention is. It’s wonderful if you have a vision for your career, but if you aren’t taking active steps toward that vision each week then it’s a dream, not a plan. I recommend taking quarterly evaluation of your progress toward your goals, your skill growth, and your self-advocacy practice. In a retreat, review your past evaluations for trends and also take stock of ways you can better align your daily work with your values and motivations.

  3. Stop venting and start communicating: I know that it’s tempting to complain about your boss or coworkers, or to blame a lack of promotion on company policy. But if you desire to be a leader not just in the office, but in your life—you have to be willing to take responsibility for your growth. I love making a complaints list and then analyzing the root issues to start to see where there are real pain points that I can create solutions to. Work with a trusted friend or speaker, (or me!) to take those frustrations and turn them into respectable suggestions. Communicating solutions will always get you ahead.

Other ways to make this process not just impactful but fun? Do it with an expert—like me, the creator of career retreat days! As a top leadership coach and public speaker I can help you go deeper with all of these components of your day, and ensure that you go home with a custom action plan to move you toward your highest leader self.

Powerhouse is my version of your personal career retreat, and it’s built around Reflection, Evaluation and Communication. Over the course of a day, I’ll help you find vocabulary around what you’re excellent at and how that impacts your company for the better. We’ll build out your leadership profile together (your executive presence style, decision making strategy and more) so that you know how to harness your own gifts and self manage your success. Then, we evaluate how much of your daily actions reflect your personal and professional value set. Lastly, we round out the day addressing your unique communication struggles so that you can return to office singing your own praises and being heard (not actually singing, even though the career retreats happen in Nashville!).

Are you ready to start controlling your own career, and leading others with confidence? Click here to apply for a free call where we can discuss your custom Powerhouse set up and get you on the calendar.

Sources:

Lanaj, K., Foulk, T. A., & Erez, A. (2019). Energizing leaders via self-reflection: A within-person field experiment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 104(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000350



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My name is Laura Weldy, and I’m a women’s leadership coach. I help women in the workplace become confident leaders by tackling their mindset head on so they can think like a leader before they have the job title. I do this through professional coaching, virtual coaching, small group masterminds and powerful courses. If you’re looking to become more successful and fulfilled at work, let’s talk! I’d love to help you build an action plan for success. Click here to apply for a free coaching consultation with me directly!