Transform your BD offsite to drive revenue

The New Year is upon us, and as a business development leader, that can only mean one thing— it's time to plan yet another 'unforgettable' offsite event! But between you and me, we know most offsites are instantly forgettable, and the only needle moving is the one on your scale.

Does this sound familiar...

• Two days of snooze-worthy presentations.
• Crickets greet you when trying to engage the group.
• Paintballing gets more mentions than the speakers.
• A big bill with no clear return on that investment.

As a BD consultant, I've recently had a stream of clients looking for ideas to flip the script on their offsite. The good news? With imagination and a good planning committee, you can turn your offsite into a memorable experience that motivates your team to achieve their objectives.

Revitalizing Your Offsite in Four Steps

Planning a valuable offsite with a thought-provoking agenda, inspiring speakers, and immersive sessions can be a game-changer for your revenue numbers. It aligns strategies, fosters innovative thinking, builds crucial capabilities, and positions your team for success. Follow these four steps to ignite your next offsite:

1. Get the Best Planning Team Available

Given the heavy lifting involved, selecting a motivated planning team that is invested in making the event successful is critical.

2. Craft an Inspiring Vision and Agenda

Select a theme aligned with a strategic priority, team goal, or training need. For maximum impact, ditch the usual time-filling agenda topics and select ones aligned with your chosen theme that will inspire and motivate.

Go beyond information overload: Plan for interactive and engaging sessions that spark critical thinking, foster collaboration, or provide hands-on application of skills.

3.Emphasize Interaction and Collaboration

Banish the boring, stale old topics and PowerPoint-heavy presentations. Incorporate your audience and encourage active participation as much as possible by using panel discussions, workshops, and role-playing exercises.\Create seating charts or breakout groups that encourage interaction across departments and break down silos. This fosters a sense of unity and allows your team to learn from each other's experiences and perspectives.

Incorporate fun and engaging team-building activities. Not only do these activities strengthen bonds and build trust, but they also provide valuable opportunities to practice communication and collaboration skills.

4. Select Speakers Who Drive Change

Find speakers that challenge assumptions and offer fresh perspectives. Consider thought leaders, motivational figures, and emerging talents within your organization. However, ensure their messages align with your goals and provide tangible value to the discussions. 

Transforming Your BD Offsite from Routine to Revolution

As you embark on this journey, heed the wisdom of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood… Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." Apply these strategies to make your next offsite an ‘unforgettable experience’  that ignites your team's passion and desire for success.

With over 20 years in the Government market, Nic Coppings, a senior partner at Hi-Q Group, has been pivotal in helping clients secure billions (and counting) in contract wins by enhancing their customer relationships and intelligence quality. Hi-Q training programs go beyond theory, equipping teams with the 'how' to forge Winning Relationships and weaponize customer intelligence. Connect with Nic on LinkedIn for more on how to Win More with Winning Relationships.