Turgeon 1

Karly Turgeon
HDF 413
Co-Facilitation Experience
April 10, 2016
Musically Inclined
Facilitating a retreat is a very rewarding experience. Facilitators get to choose what
icebreakers and initiatives should be done and what types of debrief techniques should be
discussed following the activities. Facilitators can also work with others and co-facilitate
initiatives so one facilitator doesnt feel overwhelmed. Facilitating retreats is a great way to learn
more about yourself and how you lead others. Its also a great way to learn more about other
organizations on campus and their purpose. I facilitated Musically Inclined and it was a great
learning experience. They were passionate about the retreat and really wanted to take something
positive out of it.
The group that I facilitated was called Musically Inclined. They are an a cappella group
on campus that put on shows every semester for the students and community. This groups goal
consisted of general bonding as well as allowing new leaders to acclimate themselves for the
upcoming new year. There were many things that went well during this retreat. The group was
very upbeat and talkative, which made the activities a lot of fun. They asked important questions
regarding activity rules and asked each other questions during the activity. They also worked
really well together as a group. They listened to each other and gave each other feedback on their
ideas.
Sometimes, however, when the members were giving each other feedback, they would be
really sarcastic to each other. This happened a lot during the retreat. I wasnt sure if other

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members were being serious or not, but I know one member felt really down after someone said
a certain comment. I would change my reaction to the comment and instead of doing nothing; I
would step in and ask if something was wrong or make sure to tell the group to take each
members ideas into consideration. Also, since they were very talkative, it was hard to talk over
them. Many times I had to raise my voice to start the next activity or initiative. It caught their
attention, but I didnt want to keep yelling after every activity. One technique I could have used
was the clap technique where I couldve clapped once and twice if they could hear me.
Three of my strengths that contributed to my role as a facilitator were achiever, focus,
and competition. Achiever is my top strength and really pulled through for meeting times and
discussing who would do what activity. We set up a meeting a few days before the retreat to go
over what activities would be done and what roles each facilitator would take. I co-facilitated
two activities with Jedd, while Sam lead the retreat. Achiever also came out when explaining the
rules because I made sure the group understood the goal of the activity and what needed to be
done. For focus, I made sure to keep the group on track and focus on the activity they were
playing. Sometimes they would start talking about other things so I would have to revert their
attention back to the retreat and ask questions regarding the activity. Lastly, competition
definitely came into play because during stepping-stones, one of the members was beating me
against the clock. I also watched them start to work together at this point because they knew their
time was running out.
This experience relates back to the Servant Leadership theory by Greenleaf. As a
facilitator, you put your retreat members first and serve them to help reach their goal. The theory
consists of ten characteristics: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion,
conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building

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community. When running the retreat, I had to listen to the members so I knew what they
enjoyed during the retreat and what needed to be worked on. Empathy involved being there for
them during the retreat and putting in my time to make sure that their group became closer and
bonded as one. Healing came towards the end of the retreat because they felt whole as a group
and looked towards the future. Awareness came with organization and the agenda. We made sure
to include specific bonding activities and icebreakers. Persuasion built a consensus and let the
leader of Musically Inclined know that his organization will be carried out in full after he
graduates. Conceptualization involved strategy with the group and thinking of ways to achieve
each activitys goal. Foresight was accomplished during the closing activity because the leader
felt at ease with the future about his organization. Each activity made him realize that his
members are ready to carry out the organization. Stewardship involved keeping the members on
track and making sure they doing each activity wholeheartedly. Commitment to the growth of
people involved watching the group grow as a whole throughout the whole retreat and watching
them accomplish their retreat goals. Lastly, building community involved the group realizing that
they are a family.
I learned a lot during this retreat. I learned that trust needs to be earned and it can be with
positivity and perseverance. I learned when to be a leader and when to be a follower. I learned
that organizations schedule retreats for a reason because they want their group to become closer
and have members understand each other. In the future, I hope to apply my strengths more during
retreats. Lastly, I hope to encourage other leaders to empower their group members and aid them
in accomplishing their goals.
Facilitating this retreat was a very rewarding experience. I got to know many other
students and learned more about their organization. I learned when to be a leader and when to be

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a follower. This facilitation helped me with my leadership experience. I applied what I learned in
SOLC to the Musically Inclined retreat and it went very well. I hope to continue running retreats
until I can graduate because its a very gratifying feeling knowing that you helped someone
accomplish their goal.

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References
Greenleaf (n.d.). Servant Leadership: Putting Your Team First, and Yourself Second. Retrieved
from https://www.greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/

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Student Organization Leadership Consultants
Musically Inclined Retreat
April 10th, 2016
Group:
Group Contact & info:
SOLC Contact:
Goal of Retreat:
# Participants:
Date:
Time:
Location:
Facilitators:
Shadows:
Retreat Agenda:
Time/
location
12-12:15
12:15-12:30

Musically Inclined
Gabriel DAntonio musicallyinclined@rhodysenate.org
Sam Klemarczyk
The purpose is for general bonding, as well as allowing new
leaders to acclimate themselves.
Roughly 20
4/10/16
12-4
Atrium 2
Jedd Andrews, Karly Turgeon
Sahmi Chowdhury, Rachel Ferreiraa

Topic/Activity

Facilitator

Notes/Supplies needed

Sam
Sam

Paper, Pens

12:30- 12:45
12:45-1:30

Introduction
Group Contract
Mission Impossible
Snowball Fight!
Stepping Stones

Sahmi, Rachel
Karly, Jedd

Paper
Styrofoam Pads

1:30-2:15

Lunch

2:15-2:30

Musical Body Parts

Jedd

A Bomb Playlist

2:30-2:35

Brief Initiative Review

Sam

2:35- 3:20

Key Punch

Jedd, Karly

3:20-3:40

Chiji Closing

Sam

General Supplies Check list:

- Collect Waivers, Program Agreement
- Chiji Cards
- Paper, Pens
- Stepping Stones
- Bandanas
- Key Punch Pads & Rope
- Blue Tape

Number Pads, Rope

Tape
Chiji Cards