One large county. Two vibrant cities, several thriving towns, hundreds of hidden innovation gems. Known for its beaches and moors, Devon is a force to be reckoned with in business as well. This Board Away Day brought out what was most important for us to move forward and evolve with the times.
Sawsan, who for full disclosure sits on the Plymouth Board of the Devon Chamber of Commerce, professionally maintained neutrality as she facilitated this conversation to strengthen collaborative relationships among board members and to facilitate alignment on a shared intention for the development of the Chamber going forward.
The number one outcome? The importance of friendship.
Support networks, open doors, cross-sector collaborations… it all starts with a friendly smile and a hello, how are you?
The event began with defining the ecosystem both within the Board and broader membership throughout the whole of Devon. Opening the away day by defining the ecosystem helped the Board build a shared understanding of the bigger picture, highlight areas that require attention, and encourage systems thinking over a focus on isolated problems. This then set the tone and context for more focused and strategic discussions on ways to collaborate that benefit all.
Five key themes emerged from the discussions that directly informed next actions around ensuring complementarity on the Board, streamlining our events, increasing our reach, and demystifying our offer to our members.
Participant testimonials:
“I don’t usually enjoy these things, but this was fun!”
“You have a charming way of moving the conversation along!”
“I feel we really achieved something today.”