One of our leadership team members completely checks out during our quarterly offsites because they find the structured EOS® agenda too rigid and exhausting. How do we keep everyone engaged and fully participating for two straight days?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Start by recognizing that energy levels during a two-day offsite are heavily influenced by conative styles. This is where the Kolbe A™ Index is incredibly useful. A leader who is low in Fact Finder or high in Quick Start will naturally check out when the team spends hours debating detailed metrics or reviewing historical data. Instead of forcing them to adapt to a rigid structure, you must design the offsite to accommodate different problem-solving instincts. We recommend taking the following tactical steps:

- Ensure you are utilizing the proper EOS® quarterly agenda, which alternates between high-energy updates, deep IDS® sessions, and strategic thinking.
- Take a ten-minute break every ninety minutes to let high-energy leaders reset and clear their heads.
- Assign specific physical roles, such as appointing the checked-out leader as the official timekeeper or having them document issues on the whiteboard.
- Use a same-page meeting before the offsite to align with this leader directly, asking what they need to stay engaged during the strategic sessions.

The goal is not to change their conative makeup, but to structure the session so their unique strengths are leveraged when you need them most. Often, simply acknowledging that two days of strategic planning is taxing for their natural style reduces their defensiveness and opens the door for better cooperation.