Gather Before They Leave
By Jeremy Clopton
As we move toward the end of the year, calendars begin to fill. Holiday parties, client appreciation events, football weekends, team lunches, volunteer activities, and family gatherings all compete for our attention.
For many leaders, these events feel like interruptions to the “real work.”
I see them differently.
They are some of the most important leadership opportunities of the year.
From working with leaders across the U.S. and Canada, I’ve concluded that gathering isn’t just a social activity. It is a leadership discipline.
Why This Matters
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of facilitating hundreds of retreats, conferences, and managing partner groups. When participants reflect on those experiences, they rarely begin by talking about the presentations or the agenda. Instead, they talk about the conversations they had over dinner. They remember the walk between sessions. They remember laughing together, catching up on life, and building friendships.
The most memorable moments aren’t always about business. They’re about people.
That observation shouldn’t surprise us because accounting is, and always will be, a people business. We serve people. We work alongside people. We lead people. Every meaningful outcome in our firms is created through relationships.
Ironically, we live in a time when connection has never been more important. Technology allows us to stay connected to more people than ever before, yet many of us feel less connected than ever. We don’t need more connections. We need more connection.
That is why gathering matters.
One of the biggest mistakes I see firm leaders make is allowing the demands of the work to overshadow the purpose behind it. Busy seasons, deadlines, client requests, and internal initiatives consume our calendars. Before long, we spend all our energy managing work instead of cultivating relationships.
People don’t need more meetings. They need more moments.
The Business Case
I’ve watched this play out repeatedly during leadership retreats. Day one is often productive. People are engaged, but they’re still careful. Then something changes. After dinner together, conversations at the hotel, or simply spending time without an agenda, day two feels different. People become more authentic. They challenge one another with greater trust. Ideas flow more freely. Vulnerability replaces caution, and collaboration reaches a different level.
That doesn’t happen because the agenda improved overnight.
It happens because relationships did.
The return on that investment is significant. An hour over lunch or coffee may not feel productive in the traditional sense, but it pays dividends through stronger engagement, deeper trust, and better retention. As we discussed in last month’s article, engaged team members stay longer, contribute more, and create a stronger experience for clients.
The ROI is real.
Simplify Gathering
As leaders, we often overcomplicate gathering. We assume it requires a retreat, an elaborate event, or a significant investment.
It doesn’t.
Take someone to lunch.
Invite a newer team member to coffee.
Sit with a different person at the holiday party.
Ask questions that have nothing to do with work.
Slow down long enough to know the people you lead.
What separates the gatherings people forget from the one they remember isn’t the budget or the venue.
It’s the intentionality.
The environment matters. The people you invite matter. The conversations you encourage matter. The overall experience matters. Great gatherings don’t happen by accident. They are thoughtfully designed to help people feel seen, valued, and connected.
Gather at Year's End
Next quarter gives us a natural opportunity to do exactly that.
As your calendar fills over the next few months, don’t simply ask what events you’re attending.
Ask yourself a different question.
Who needs more connection before this year comes to a close?
Then create the moment.
You may discover that one of the most effective retention strategies isn’t found in another policy, benefit, or initiative.
It starts around a table.
Book of the Month
If you’re looking for a thoughtful read before the holiday season begins, I highly recommend The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Whether you’re planning a retreat, leading a team meeting, hosting a client event, or simply inviting someone to lunch, the book offers practical insights into creating experiences that people remember long after the gathering ends.
