In our fast-changing world — where new competitors pop up, budgets tighten, and member expectations shift — sticking to “the way we’ve always done it” is a recipe for stagnation. Enter the Tabula Rasa Innovation Retreat. Named after the Latin for “blank slate,” this off-site gathering strips away organizational blinders and sparks fresh thinking. Here’s how it works — and why it just might be the most valuable day you invest this year.
Shake Up the Status Quo
Routine breeds tunnel vision. While front-line staff juggle registrations and managers wrestle with customer concerns and maintenance emergencies, the spark of innovation often sputters out. A dedicated retreat — far from ringing phones and overflowing inboxes — lets everyone refocus on big “What if…?” questions such as:
- “What would our programs look like if we launched from scratch today?”
- "How do we stay relevant five years from now?”
Who’s Invited?
The magic happens when you mix familiar voices with fresh perspectives. Imagine a table where:
- Front-desk staff share the daily pulse of member concerns
- Marketing pros dream up attention-grabbing campaigns
- Organizational leaders bring strategic know-how
- A handful of members offer honest, outside-in feedback
That diverse blend keeps ideas honest and actionable. Pick an inspiring off-site location, if possible, where the only agenda is creativity. No unrelated agenda topics, no email checks, no urgent interruptions. Every perspective and every option is on the table, regardless of how it may or not fit in with the current operating model.
Be sure not to fall into the abyss of, “We tried that before and it didn’t work." Take a few moments to see if the “failure” was one of concept or execution. Was the concept sound with the execution falling short of the mark? Often great concepts are relegated to the rubbish bin of bad ideas merely because they were poorly executed. Chief among the execution errors is inadequate internal and external communication. Staff who don’t fully understand or buy into an initiative are not likely to enthusiastically present it to the public.
Critical to achieving success is creating an atmosphere in which all are comfortable sharing even the most outrageous ideas. A guest facilitator can nudge conversations forward, frame debates and guard against “well, we tried that before” roadblocks.
Real-World Win: Membership Makeover
A community center Ballard*King recently partnered with knew they had solid programs — but membership growth had flat-lined. Increasing prices was not an option and the small fitness area was barely sufficient to accommodate the current members. So, the team’s seemingly impossible goal became, “Increase net membership revenue without raising prices or increasing the total number of members.”
Key Retreat insight:
By pausing their normal workday to attend a Tabula Rasa Innovation Retreat and taking a hard look at what members wanted and were willing to pay for, the team came to the realization that, with minor tweaks, they already had essentially the right options.
However, they uncovered a surprising snag: they’d been introducing prospects to the lowest-tier, least profitable plan first, then trying to upsell to the premium package. They learned that they needed to flip the script — lead with the premium “Gold” membership, then offer a value option for whose needs could be fully met with the lower priced membership plan.
Outcome: Following the change, the percentage of new members signing up for the Gold membership jumped from less than 20% to over 65%. Revenue climbed on the back of smart planning, marketing, and communication...and not higher prices! And, with no change in the total number of memberships, they were able to get the most out of their undersized fitness center.
Keys to a Successful Retreat
- Clarify Your North Star
Share the retreat’s goal weeks in advance so participants arrive mentally warmed up. - Embrace Radical Openness
All ideas are welcome — no untouchable items. - Balance Structure & Freedom
Use guided exercises to spark ideas but leave room for free-wheeling brainstorming. - Plan Your Follow-Through
Great ideas fade without a rollout plan. Sketch quick action steps and assign champions before you pack up. - Develop Internal and External Communication Plans
- Celebrate Small Wins
Share early successes to build momentum for bigger changes.
As recreation leaders, our mission is to connect, inspire, and serve. Sometimes the best way forward is to step off the treadmill, embrace a blank slate, and recast your facility’s future.
Ready to trade routine for reinvention? Schedule your Tabula Rasa Innovation Retreat — and watch the next great idea take shape. If you’d like a fresh perspective — whether it’s designing an Innovation Retreat or tackling a recreation feasibility study, master plan, or facility operations plan — our team at Ballard*King & Associates would be happy to lend our expertise. Feel free to reach out anytime for a no-pressure conversation about how we can support your next initiative. You never know — you might just spark the single idea that transforms your entire community!
For more information, contact Ballard*King at: [email protected]