Prepare your business for time away
How to plan your first week back after a retreat
Protect day one, listen before deciding, triage by consequence, and calendar one or two habits from the retreat before anything else.
Plan your first week back by protecting the first day for yourself, scheduling listening conversations before decisions, triaging the backlog by consequence, and keeping the routine that you built away. Do not try to clear everything at once.
Before you land
- Ask for a one page summary of what changed.
- Block the first day or morning on your calendar.
- Keep routine anchors such as training and sleep times.
Day by day
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the summary, no decisions; walk the floor or call key people |
| 2 | Triage the inbox by consequence |
| 3 | Listen to the team on what worked without you |
| 4 | Decide the few things that need you |
| 5 | Review the week and pick one routine to protect |
What to protect
The reason you went is easy to lose by Wednesday. Choose one or two habits and put them in your calendar first. See Retreat goal-setting worksheet for business owners for goals to revisit.
Use the worksheet
The prompts on this page help you plan before you leave. Related: 14 days vs 30 days away from the business on length and re-entry.
Messages to send in advance
Tell the team when you will be back, which day you will be catching up, and that you want a short summary. Tell customers who will contact them first. Ask the person covering for you to flag the three most important open items so you do not have to dig for them.
Warning signs in week one
- You are answering email at the same hours as before you left.
- You are reversing decisions your team made without hearing why.
- Your training or sleep routine has already slipped.
If any appear, return to the plan: pause, listen, and protect the habits you set out to keep.
Questions people ask
Should I answer everything on day one?
No. Read the summary and triage first.
What if the team changed things?
Listen first and judge by results.
How do I keep habits going?
Schedule them first and tell someone who will ask.
Sources and further reading
Ready to see if Lions Gate fits?
Review the current program and request your place directly with Lions Gate. Pricing, eligibility and booking terms are set by the retreat.
Request a place →Lions Gate Retreats advertises on The Company Chronicle. This guide was written by our editorial team from public sources and general professional practice; it does not describe a guarantee, quote or offer from Lions Gate Retreats. Confirm current terms, prices and availability with the operator before you decide.