Transform Your Business with Leadership and Corporate Retreats
At Retreat Yourself, we know that the best breakthroughs happen when you step away from the daily grind and focus on what truly matters - your people.
If you’re tired of the usual team-building games and conference rooms that don’t deliver lasting results, it’s time to consider something different. Our corporate and leadership retreats offer a powerful way to invest in your team, with real returns in productivity, engagement, and performance.
What actually is a leadership retreat?
Well let's start with what it isn't... it's not a jolly!
It's not a work 'knees up' for the team to let their hair down.
The primary aim of a 'standard' (non business retreat is to create a space for individuals to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life, reconnect with themselves, and gain clarity, insight, and renewal – most people we know could most certainly do with a dose of that on prescription!
A retreat is a purposeful withdrawal or departure from our usual environment, routine, or activities for a period of time - often for rest, relaxation, reflection, personal growth, or spiritual development. They’re different to a standard holiday which is quite simply time off from everyday routine. Retreats are purposeful removal from your hectic environment to heal, rest, rejuvenate, recharge and take a step back to make some positive changes or modifications to the way you live so you don’t just return and jump straight back on the hamster wheel of life!
So when you translate that into the context of business and leadership then our definition of a leadership retreat would be...
"A space for a team to disconnect from the stresses and pressures of the business. To reconnect with themselves as a leader and with their peers in the team and gain clarity, insight and renewal towards strategic goals leading to positive change & action to accelerate execution & quality."
Why Choose a Corporate or Leadership Retreat?
Let’s face it - team-building activities that feel forced rarely lead to real change. They might be fun for a day, but they don’t address the core needs of your team or provide lasting value. Our retreats go deeper. We create experiences that not only strengthen bonds but also drive meaningful, long-term improvements in how your team works together.
Here’s the bottom line: companies that invest in effective team development see up to a 25% increase in productivity and a 21% boost in profitability. A well-executed retreat isn’t just a break from the office - it’s a smart investment in your organisation’s future.
So what?
The Impact of a Corporate or Leadership Retreat
If you want to get an idea of the vast ROI you can gain from a leadership retreat, check out one recent blog
HERE.
Investing in a leadership or corporate retreat isn’t just about having a good time - it’s about getting real returns. Here’s what you can expect:
Stronger Team Relationships
Teams that trust each other are more effective. A retreat can
increase trust by up to 45%, leading to better collaboration and innovation.
Clearer Alignment on Goals
Teams that are aligned with their organization’s mission and goals are 50% more likely to exceed their targets.
Improved Communication
Open and honest communication reduces conflicts and improves teamwork. Teams that communicate well are
20% more productive.
.
Leadership Development
Empowered leaders are more effective and inspire their teams to achieve more. Leadership development on a retreat can improve leadership effectiveness by 30%
A Recharged Team
Retreats aren’t just a break; they’re a way to prevent burnout and improve overall wellbeing, leading to 32% fewer sick days
and higher employee retention
.
What we offer
Customised Retreats for Real Results
No cookie-cutter programmes here. We take the time to understand your team’s specific challenges and goals, then design a retreat that delivers. Whether you’re looking to build trust, improve communication, or align on strategy, we tailor every aspect of the retreat to meet your needs.
Inspiring Locations
Getting away from the usual work environment is crucial for fresh thinking. Our retreats are held in locations that inspire creativity and relaxation—whether that’s a peaceful countryside setting or a coastal retreat, in the UK or overseas. This change of scenery helps your team recharge and return with new energy.
Guided by Experts
Our experienced facilitators know how to get the best out of your team. Through workshops, activities, and reflective sessions, we help your team uncover insights, build stronger relationships, and develop practical skills they can bring back to the workplace.
Wellbeing as a Priority
We believe that a healthy team is a high-performing team. That’s why our retreats include wellness activities like yoga, meditation, time in nature as well as adventure activities and cultural immersions. These aren’t just nice extras - they’re integral to helping your team recharge and perform at their best.
Make the Smart Investment
Ready to see real results? A leadership retreat with Retreat Yourself is more than just a getaway—it’s a strategic investment in your team’s success and your organization’s future. The benefits are clear: a stronger, more aligned, and more productive team that’s ready to take on any challenge.
Get in touch today to find out how we can create a retreat that delivers real value for your team and a significant return on your investment.
Get In Touch
Get in touch...
Blog
Finish the Year Soft, Not Strong: Why Women Need to Ditch Stoicism This December
Let me tell you something I used to pride myself on:
Getting my head down. Powering through. Being the strong one. The dependable one. The one who never kicked off, never crumbled, never said, “Actually, I’m struggling.”
And honestly?
I lapped up the praise.
“Oh, you’re amazing.”
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“You’re so strong.”
Back then it felt like a compliment.
These days… it’s a joke.
Because here’s the truth no one likes to say out loud:
Stoicism is absolutely rinsing women of their health — and December is the worst possible month to wear the ‘strong girl’ badge.
Stoicism isn’t strength. It’s self-neglect dressed up as grit.
Stoicism tells you to get on with it.
Don’t complain.
Don’t rest.
Don’t say no.
Smile politely.
Hold it all in.
But here’s the problem:
Your nervous system doesn’t give a toss about stoicism. It only cares about survival.
And December?
It’s a perfect storm:
Extra emotional labour
Invisible Christmas workload
End-of-year deadlines
Kids’ events
Work socials
Financial pressure
And for many women — the creeping exhaustion you’ve been ignoring since September
We’re conditioned to “just keep going” because that’s what “strong women” do.
But what if strength isn’t what you actually need right now?
December is not the month to be strong — it’s the month to soften.
Here’s what I mean by soft, because some people will get triggered by that word:
Soft doesn’t mean weak. Soft means regulated. Present. In your body, not pushing past it. Available for joy, not buried under performance.
Soft means:
Responding, not reacting
Feeling, not suppressing
Resting, not proving
Asking, not absorbing everything silently
Slowing down instead of sprinting into burnout
Softness is actually the harder choice.
Anyone can white-knuckle their way through December.
It takes courage to say: “I’m not doing that this year.”
Your body keeps the score — and December exposes the debt.
If you’ve spent months ignoring the signs…
Tight chest
Brain fog
Snappy mood
Zero patience
Feeling flat or hollow
Too wired to rest, too tired to function
Living on caffeine and cortisol
…then December turns the dial up to 10.
Stoicism hides it.
Softness lets you process it.
You can either feel it as you go, or it will hit you like a freight train the minute you stop for Christmas.
And let’s be honest — most women crash on 27th December.
It’s not a coincidence.
It’s the cost of being “strong” for 12 months straight.
This year: finish soft, not strong.
Here’s what that looks like in real life:
1. Cancel something.
Not “shift it”.
Cancel it.
2. Lower the bar.
Good enough is good enough.
No one cares about perfect.
3. Say the sentence you hate saying: “I need help.”
You’re allowed it.
4. Prioritise slowness.
Walk slower.
Talk slower.
Breathe deeper.
Eat something warm.
This regulates your nervous system more than you think.
5. Protect your peace like it actually matters — because it does.
People can be disappointed.
You don’t have to be.
6. Let December be gentle.
It’s a liminal month.
A month for reflection.
A month for exhaling.
If you want to be strong in January… be soft now.
Strength that comes from recovery, rest and regulation is a different kind of strength altogether.
Stoicism is brittle — one crack and you’re done.
Softness is flexible — it bends, adjusts, responds.
And if there’s one thing women need this December, it’s permission to stop being the strong, stoic soldier and start being a human being again.
Soft.
Present.
Rested.
Ready.
Not worn out and wiped out.
Finish the year soft, not strong.
FAQ's
Where do you go on a corporate retreat?
Clue: It's not the Holiday Inn Slough!
Now you're talking, right? Corporate retreats can happen in many places depending on your budget, how many people are going to be on it, what your company culture is like and what your purpose & goals are. This means it could be anything from an outdoor activity centre on Dartmouth UK or a swanky resort in Zanzibar (and anything in between). We will work with you to decide on the best location and venue and we can make plenty of suggestions based on our years of experience and our huge database of preferred suppliers (who we also happen to get great rates and deals off)
Who are these retreats for?
Gnerally speaking they are for senior leadership and executive teams operating at a strategic level. We do get asked to support some retreats for bigger groups at middle management level and can tailor them accordingly but we'd probably suggest breaking them into suitably sized cohorts if there's a big group of people.
How many people can go on a retreat?
It varies according to your objectives, goals and audience. As a general rule, the more senior the group, the smaller the cohort. A group of 4-6 is not unusual at this level and very effective. Equally an SLT of 12-15 works brilliantly and we can run single retreats for 30-50 (particularly in the UK).
What are the typical costs?
This is a tricky question and it's so varied but it can be way less than you'd imagine!
If you think about sending a member of your team on a 2 day course that's likely to cost somewhere in the region of £1-2k (we've known organisations spend more than this on pizza for their teams!!)... you can get some much more for your investment with a retreat! £1-2k per person would allow you to take the team to a luxury venue overseas for a 3/4 day retreat with all food, accommodation and activities/development sessions included. Equally, we've run 2 day retreats that are more basic and 'outdoorsy' for around £350 per person.
What subject/topic would you have a retreat for?
Strategy Development
Leadership Development
Executive Coaching
Culture Transformation
Women in Leadership Retreats
Project Kick Off
Product Launches
Employee Wellbeing
Reward & Recognition
Team Building/Team Dynamics
Start Up Retreat
Entrpreneur Retreats
Netowrking Retreats
"Workation
Company Celebrations
What expertise do you have to deliver a corporate retreat?
Retreat Yourself is Co-Founded and run by Jodie Salt & Claire Gregory who have fused their expertise & experience to position themselves perfectly to deliver Corporate & Leadership Retreats.
Jodie has been a qualified Executive Coach for 15 years working with C-suite execs and SLT members specifically supporting them with their leadership development. She has experience across many industries from military/MOD & public sector to large blue chip private organisations in financial services, utilities, telecomms, tech, retail etc. She is able to deliver a wide ranging suite of workshops and coaching interventions to support individual & team development needs.
Claire has a Masters in Muscular Skeltal Rehabilition, is a health & wellness coach specialising in pre & post natal support, a Personal Trainer, qualified in Accupuncture and and expert in many other wellbeing interventions including nutrition, sleep & hormonal health.
Together we have been running retreats for over 5 years all over the world and so the blend of the 3 elements provide us with the basis to curate an exceptional retreat for you and your team.
We also have an amazing network of associate facilitators in many other subject matter areas (financial/wealth advisors, personal style consultants, spirtual healers, meditation & mindulness facilitators etc) who support us on our own retreats and that we can call upon for our corporate retreats too.
Some of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme but ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website/brochure. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it., those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information about financial protection.