The Aspen Institute’s Leadership Division was preparing for an internal staff retreat designed to address the emotional well-being and resilience of its team members. The challenge was to create a retreat experience that not only facilitated team bonding but also provided participants with tools and strategies to navigate their complex social identities and triggers in facilitation settings. The retreat needed to be carefully structured to fit within a 90-minute time frame while delivering impactful content that would resonate with the staff and support their personal and professional growth.

The Aspen Institute is a prestigious organization known for its commitment to fostering leadership and addressing critical issues in society. The Leadership Division, a core part of the Institute, plays a vital role in developing programs and initiatives that cultivate leadership across various sectors. Given the emotionally demanding nature of their work, the Division’s staff often navigates complex social dynamics and personal triggers while facilitating discussions and workshops. Recognizing the importance of emotional resilience and well-being, the Division’s leadership sought to organize a retreat that would equip their team with practical strategies to manage these challenges effectively.

Symphonic Strategies was engaged to design and facilitate the staff retreat for the Aspen Leadership Division. Our approach was centered on creating a safe, reflective space where staff members could explore their social identities, recognize their triggers, and develop resilience strategies. The retreat was structured into a series of activities that allowed participants to engage deeply with the content while fostering trust and openness among the group.

Key components of the retreat included:

1. Introduction and Framing: The retreat began with a welcome by the executive sponsor, setting the stage and framing the importance of the session. This was followed by an introduction to the facilitator, AJ Robinson, who provided opening remarks on emotional well-being and resilience.

2. Key Concepts and Practices: AJ introduced key concepts such as the social construction of identity, public and private faces, and the importance of being in service to others. These concepts were foundational for the exercises that followed.

3. Exercise #1—Inventory of Identities: Participants were guided through an exercise to develop an inventory of their social identities. In small groups, they discussed how these identities are both assumed and ascribed in various facilitation settings, and how they present public and private faces. The exercise was designed to help participants reflect on the political, social, and emotional implications of their identities.

4. Exercise #2—Triggers: The second exercise focused on identifying and discussing triggers—situations or interactions that provoke strong emotional responses. Participants shared their experiences in small groups, focusing on storytelling as a means of exploring and understanding their triggers.

5. Debrief and Discussion: After each exercise, AJ led a debrief and discussion session where participants could share their reflections and insights with the larger group. This allowed for collective learning and reinforced the key takeaways from the exercises.

6. Closing Thoughts: The retreat concluded with closing remarks that emphasized the importance of being aware of social identities, managing triggers, and consciously creating spaces for health and resilience.

The implementation of the retreat was carefully planned to ensure that the content was both impactful and manageable within the 90-minute time frame. Key steps included:

1. Run of Show Development: AJ Robinson collaborated with the Aspen Leadership Division to develop a detailed run of show, outlining the sequence of activities, their duration, and key objectives. This plan ensured that the retreat would flow smoothly and that all critical topics would be covered.

2. Facilitation and Role-Playing: AJ used role-playing to demonstrate the exercises before participants engaged in them. This approach helped clarify expectations and provided participants with a model for how to approach the activities.

3. Small Group Engagement: The retreat was designed to maximize small group interaction, allowing participants to build rapport and trust. This was essential for encouraging honest and open discussions about sensitive topics.

4. Time Management: Given the limited time available, careful attention was paid to managing the schedule, ensuring that each activity was given adequate time while keeping the retreat on track.

The Aspen Leadership Division staff retreat was successful in achieving its objectives. Participants reported feeling more aware of their social identities and better equipped to manage their emotional triggers in facilitation settings. The exercises fostered a deeper understanding of the personal and professional challenges they face and provided practical strategies for enhancing their resilience. The retreat also strengthened the sense of community among the staff, as participants were able to share their experiences and support one another in a structured and safe environment.

This case study underscores the importance of structured, reflective retreats in supporting the emotional well-being and resilience of teams working in high-pressure environments. By focusing on social identities and triggers, Symphonic Strategies provided the Aspen Leadership Division with tools and strategies that will help them navigate the complexities of their roles with greater confidence and effectiveness.

Is your team in need of strategies to enhance their emotional resilience and navigate complex social dynamics? Contact Symphonic Strategies today to learn how we can design and facilitate a retreat that provides your team with the tools they need to thrive in challenging environments.