When the going gets tough ... the tough retreat.

• Author: Spilchuk, Barry
• Position: Guest Columnist

When the going gets tough ... the tough ... RETREAT!!! I will bet you just thought of the words, "The tough-get going!" Most people do. Why? Because most people do things the same old way--every time!

It is fascinating to see how many companies and organizations preach to their staff and their client base, "Come play with us because ... WE ARE DIFFERENT!" yet they do the same things in their organizations day after day, week after week, year after year.

When something is working, obviously you want it to keep on working and there is a tendency to say, "If it ain't broke ... don't fix it!"

Progressive managers and company owners are now embracing the philosophy, "If it ain't broken ... fix it anyway!"

Why? The horse-drawn carriage wasn't broke. Henry Ford saw a better way and now we have automobiles which, by the way, keep getting better and better each year.

The mining industry has always been a driving economic force in Northern Ontario. The systems and safety procedures that have been implemented over the years have increased safety and efficiency so much that deaths and serious accidents have been reduced significantly, according to the Mines Accident Safety and Health Association (MASHA.)

The old way of saying, "Go down the hole and dig until your shift is over," never really served anyone.

The title of this article, "When the going gets tough ... the tough ... RETREAT," has a double meaning.

One way to retreat is to actually spend time away from the office in a secluded area like a resort or conference centre. Many organizations plan annual getaways for their teams on the premise of, "Creating togetherness!"

One of the complaints that employees and conference delegates have had lately has been the SAME-NESS of the experience year after year. The executives read the State-of-the-union-address; the managers give their annual dissertation; meals are served; promises are made; a "Rah-rah we-can-do-it-together" speech is given; and you go home to discover that little, if anything, has changed.

The philosopher Emerson said, "Of what use to make heroic vows of amendment if the same old law breaker is going to carry out the task?"

What if you could do it slightly differently? What would it mean to your organization if you could make your retreat experience memorable and meaningful? What would it mean to you personally and professionally to be stretched and held more accountable?"

While some would argue that, "I like things the way they are,"...