Wednesday – Arrival & Welcome
Afternoon: Arrival & Check-in (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
: Settle in and begin your journey with gentle refreshments and space to relax.
Unwind from travel, meet fellow leaders informally, and prepare your mind and heart for the retreat ahead.
Activities:
Welcome lounge with light refreshments and soft music
Name badge creation with a ‘sparkle word’ that describes your leadership style
Evening: Welcome Dinner & Icebreaker: “Sparkle & Share” (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
Sentence: Connect deeply through fun and meaningful sharing to build trust and openness.
Description: Engage in “Two Truths and a Leadership Lie” to spark laughter and insight, followed by an opening talk exploring why leadership truly matters in early childhood education.
Activities:
Icebreaker: Two Truths and a Leadership Lie (share two truths and one made-up leadership fact about yourself; group guesses the lie)
Sparkle & Share Circle: Each participant shares a leadership moment they’re proud of
Thursday – Vision, Strategy & Practical LeadershipMorning Session 1: Creating a Vision for Your Service (9:00 am – 11:00 am)
Craft a vivid vision that inspires and guides your team towards shared success.
Use vision boards to visually express your goals, discuss core values, and explore questions that align your service’s future with your leadership passion.
Activities:
Vision Board Creation: Use magazines, art supplies, and words to build a personal vision board
Values Discussion in small groups, followed by whole group sharing
Reflection journaling on what leadership vision means to you
Morning Session 2: Leading Through the NQF (11:15 am – 12:30 pm)
Sentence: Navigate the National Quality Framework with confidence and strategic insight.
Description: Analyze real-world case studies and engage in an interactive NQF bingo to deepen understanding of quality standards and leadership responsibilities.
Activities:
Case Study Group Work: Analyze scenarios and discuss leadership responses
NQF Leadership Bingo: Interactive bingo game based on leadership actions and NQF elements
Lunch (12:30 pm – 1:30 pm)
Afternoon Session 1: Effective Communication & Difficult Conversations (1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)
Build skills to communicate clearly and compassionately, even when conversations are tough.
Participate in group discussions and active listening exercises to enhance your ability to lead with empathy and clarity.
Activities:
Role-Play Exercise: Practice difficult conversations in pairs with feedback
Active Listening Circle: Practice mindful listening without interruption
Group brainstorm: Tips for handling challenging conversations
Afternoon Session 2: Time Management & Delegation (3:15 pm – 4:30 pm)
Master the art of prioritising and empowering others through strategic delegation.
Description: Reflect on how you currently use your time, then take on delegation challenges to create space for impactful leadership.
Activities:
Evening: Networking Drinks & Team Trivia Night (6:30 pm – 9:00 pm)
Sentence: Relax and bond with peers in a lively evening of connection and fun.
Description: Enjoy casual networking paired with team trivia that encourages camaraderie and laughter.
Activities:
Friday – Emotional Intelligence & Psychology Deep DivesMorning Session 1: Coaching & Mentoring Skills for Leaders (9:00 am – 10:30 am)
Sentence: Develop coaching techniques that nurture growth in yourself and your team.
Description: Engage in peer coaching circles and share personal strengths to enhance mentoring capabilities.
Activities:
Sentence: Create a workplace culture that values wellbeing, recognition, and excellence.
Description: Brainstorm ways to celebrate success and map strategies to support team wellbeing and motivation.
Activities:
Afternoon Session 1: Emotional Intelligence in Leadership (1:15 pm – 2:45 pm)
Sentence: Deepen your understanding of emotional triggers and cultivate empathy as a leader.
Description: Explore personal emotional triggers and practice empathy from multiple perspectives to enhance your leadership presence.
Activities:
Harness psychological insights to lead with deeper understanding of yourself and others.
Description: Learn about DISC personality profiles, explore love languages, and analyze case studies to tailor your leadership approach.
Activities:
Sentence: Gather in a safe, intimate space to reflect on the day’s learning and personal leadership journeys.
Description: Share insights, challenges, and hopes while building meaningful connections with fellow leaders.
Activities:
Saturday – Free Time + Lunch TogetherMorning: Free time (explore, spa, relax)
Sentence: Choose rest and renewal in a way that nurtures your spirit.
Lunch Together (12:00 pm – 1:30 pm)
Sentence: Reconnect with the group over an informal Q&A and heartfelt catch-up.
Description: Share stories, ask questions, and deepen connections in a relaxed setting.
Activities:
Sentence: Embrace freedom to enjoy the day as you wish, with optional social opportunities.
Activities:
Sunday – Free Time + Farewell LunchMorning: Free time (optional yoga/walk)
Sentence: Begin your final day with gentle movement or quiet reflection to refresh your mind and body.
Activities:
Sentence: Close the retreat with gratitude, celebration, and shared reflections.
Description: Participate in a gratitude roundtable to honor your growth, friendships, and vision for leadership ahead.
Activities:
If you'd like, I can also help prepare printable worksheets or discussion prompts to accompany each activity! Just say the word, lovely! xoxo
Afternoon: Arrival & Check-in (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
: Settle in and begin your journey with gentle refreshments and space to relax.
Unwind from travel, meet fellow leaders informally, and prepare your mind and heart for the retreat ahead.
Activities:
Welcome lounge with light refreshments and soft music
Name badge creation with a ‘sparkle word’ that describes your leadership style
Evening: Welcome Dinner & Icebreaker: “Sparkle & Share” (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
Sentence: Connect deeply through fun and meaningful sharing to build trust and openness.
Description: Engage in “Two Truths and a Leadership Lie” to spark laughter and insight, followed by an opening talk exploring why leadership truly matters in early childhood education.
Activities:
Icebreaker: Two Truths and a Leadership Lie (share two truths and one made-up leadership fact about yourself; group guesses the lie)
Sparkle & Share Circle: Each participant shares a leadership moment they’re proud of
Thursday – Vision, Strategy & Practical LeadershipMorning Session 1: Creating a Vision for Your Service (9:00 am – 11:00 am)
Craft a vivid vision that inspires and guides your team towards shared success.
Use vision boards to visually express your goals, discuss core values, and explore questions that align your service’s future with your leadership passion.
Activities:
Vision Board Creation: Use magazines, art supplies, and words to build a personal vision board
Values Discussion in small groups, followed by whole group sharing
Reflection journaling on what leadership vision means to you
Morning Session 2: Leading Through the NQF (11:15 am – 12:30 pm)
Sentence: Navigate the National Quality Framework with confidence and strategic insight.
Description: Analyze real-world case studies and engage in an interactive NQF bingo to deepen understanding of quality standards and leadership responsibilities.
Activities:
Case Study Group Work: Analyze scenarios and discuss leadership responses
NQF Leadership Bingo: Interactive bingo game based on leadership actions and NQF elements
Lunch (12:30 pm – 1:30 pm)
Afternoon Session 1: Effective Communication & Difficult Conversations (1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)
Build skills to communicate clearly and compassionately, even when conversations are tough.
Participate in group discussions and active listening exercises to enhance your ability to lead with empathy and clarity.
Activities:
Role-Play Exercise: Practice difficult conversations in pairs with feedback
Active Listening Circle: Practice mindful listening without interruption
Group brainstorm: Tips for handling challenging conversations
Afternoon Session 2: Time Management & Delegation (3:15 pm – 4:30 pm)
Master the art of prioritising and empowering others through strategic delegation.
Description: Reflect on how you currently use your time, then take on delegation challenges to create space for impactful leadership.
Activities:
- Time Audit Reflection: Complete a personal time-use audit
- Delegation Challenge: In groups, create delegation plans for sample tasks
- Goal-setting worksheet for prioritizing leadership responsibilities
Evening: Networking Drinks & Team Trivia Night (6:30 pm – 9:00 pm)
Sentence: Relax and bond with peers in a lively evening of connection and fun.
Description: Enjoy casual networking paired with team trivia that encourages camaraderie and laughter.
Activities:
- Trivia Teams compete on leadership, early childhood, and fun facts
- Icebreaker mingle game: “Find someone who…”
- Informal networking and socializing
Friday – Emotional Intelligence & Psychology Deep DivesMorning Session 1: Coaching & Mentoring Skills for Leaders (9:00 am – 10:30 am)
Sentence: Develop coaching techniques that nurture growth in yourself and your team.
Description: Engage in peer coaching circles and share personal strengths to enhance mentoring capabilities.
Activities:
- Peer Coaching Circles: Practice coaching conversations in small groups
- Strengths Sharing: Use a strengths assessment to identify key skills
- Reflection: Identify one coaching goal for your leadership practice
Sentence: Create a workplace culture that values wellbeing, recognition, and excellence.
Description: Brainstorm ways to celebrate success and map strategies to support team wellbeing and motivation.
Activities:
- Recognition Brainstorm: In groups, create ideas for meaningful team recognition
- Wellbeing Mapping: Map team wellbeing needs and resources using visual tools
- Action Planning: Develop a culture-building mini plan
Afternoon Session 1: Emotional Intelligence in Leadership (1:15 pm – 2:45 pm)
Sentence: Deepen your understanding of emotional triggers and cultivate empathy as a leader.
Description: Explore personal emotional triggers and practice empathy from multiple perspectives to enhance your leadership presence.
Activities:
- Emotional Triggers Mapping: Individual exercise to identify triggers
- Empathy Perspectives: Role-play scenarios from others’ viewpoints
- Group discussion: Sharing empathy-building strategies
Harness psychological insights to lead with deeper understanding of yourself and others.
Description: Learn about DISC personality profiles, explore love languages, and analyze case studies to tailor your leadership approach.
Activities:
- DISC Personality Profile Completion and Debrief
- Love Languages Workshop: Discover personal and team preferences
- Personality Case Study Groups: Apply insights to leadership scenarios
Sentence: Gather in a safe, intimate space to reflect on the day’s learning and personal leadership journeys.
Description: Share insights, challenges, and hopes while building meaningful connections with fellow leaders.
Activities:
- Guided reflection prompts
- Open sharing circle
- Mindfulness breathing and grounding exercise
Saturday – Free Time + Lunch TogetherMorning: Free time (explore, spa, relax)
Sentence: Choose rest and renewal in a way that nurtures your spirit.
Lunch Together (12:00 pm – 1:30 pm)
Sentence: Reconnect with the group over an informal Q&A and heartfelt catch-up.
Description: Share stories, ask questions, and deepen connections in a relaxed setting.
Activities:
- Informal Q&A with retreat facilitator
- Group discussion: Highlights and aha moments so far
Sentence: Embrace freedom to enjoy the day as you wish, with optional social opportunities.
Activities:
- Optional group walk or creative workshop (e.g., journaling or painting)
- Optional spa or mindfulness sessions
Sunday – Free Time + Farewell LunchMorning: Free time (optional yoga/walk)
Sentence: Begin your final day with gentle movement or quiet reflection to refresh your mind and body.
Activities:
- Optional sunrise yoga or mindful nature walk
Sentence: Close the retreat with gratitude, celebration, and shared reflections.
Description: Participate in a gratitude roundtable to honor your growth, friendships, and vision for leadership ahead.
Activities:
- Gratitude Roundtable: Each participant shares what they’re thankful for
- Group photo and closing ceremony
If you'd like, I can also help prepare printable worksheets or discussion prompts to accompany each activity! Just say the word, lovely! xoxo