Growth, Connection, and Time to Recharge
In November this year, we hosted our first MIBE Executive Retreat in Huatulco, Mexico. It was an incredible experience as fourteen awesome heart leaders came together for five days of unique adventures, cultural experiences, and enlightening discussions. When we came up with the idea to create a MIBE retreat, we hoped to bring people together and provide three critical things that we believe all leaders need throughout their journey - connection, growth, and time to recharge.
Anytime we experience something new, we have an opportunity to learn and grow. When we expose ourselves to these situations, we open our mind to new things, broaden our perspective on life, and expand our ability to solve problems. While most people stay in their comfort zone, great leaders push themselves to challenge the status quo and try something new. And when we experience those new things with others, we build connection. It is critical for organizations to be intentional about helping their team members forge strong relationships if they want to become great places to work and have that translate to business success. It’s also imperative for leaders to foster strong connections, because they can become a conduit for even greater growth and assist with our ability to recharge…which is essential for us to be our best. We have to continually find ways to make sure we aren’t “pouring from an empty cup”. Time away, to reflect on where we’ve been, doing something we enjoy, and having a little fun can do the trick to recharge our internal batteries and leave us feeling energized for the challenges ahead.
While I can confidently say we delivered on growth, connection and recharge, the experience went well beyond our expectations because of how everyone showed up. It’s amazing to watch what happens when people come together with open minds and open hearts. As conversations begin to take place, you feel the threads of trust quickly being sewn together - creating a safety net for people to open up and be vulnerable with one another. The discussions go deeper than the typical news, sports and weather topics that dominate most of our day-to-day interactions, and details are shared about struggles, challenges, and the weights being carried. And as those stories are shared, you can see a shift in demeanor. There is relief, gratitude, and a sense of freedom that shines through the tears that are sometimes shed. Leadership comes with great responsibility, and sometimes that can feel heavy and bring us down when we are not at our best. The power of connection though, lifts that weight, reminds us that we aren’t alone, and keeps everything in perspective.
During our time together, I marveled at the conversations that were taking place. There was a strong willingness to share and an equally strong desire to help one another. Incredible stories of personal experiences that shaped the individuals present were exchanged and professional aspirations with goals yet to be accomplished were espoused. And at the core of all of this was a desire to continue to grow, to be better, and to make a difference in the lives of others.
Happy 2025! As leaders we will always have more work to do, yet we have the freedom to decide what it is that we spend our time doing and who we spend it with. If you are looking to grow your leadership abilities, create and strengthen connections, and some space to recharge, we hope you join us at a MIBE event (or two) in 2025! Our year kicks off with our annual summit Jan 26-28th and we will soon be releasing the dates for future workshops and retreats!
