Team building can be a task that some individuals resent. The idea of meeting up with coworkers outside of work sounds tedious and annoying, however, there are great benefits to this activity. This task can build a team into an unstoppable force that will grow a business.
Corporate retreat planning can take some time, but if the energy and finances are spent correctly, the retreat will push individuals to grow into a team. These retreats are a great way to show the employees their value to the company, ensure that every member knows the company goals, and allow for a space where members can raise their concerns or provide input on ways to solve certain company problems.
The retreat should focus on all individuals that will be on the retreat. Inclusivity will be the aim and will ultimately lead to the event being a success or failure. Management and retreat planners must ensure to share the necessary detail and activities as well as gather food preferences so that all employees and managers can enjoy the retreat.
Benefits of Corporate Retreats
There are various benefits of running a corporate retreat. The benefits all depend on the activities and exercises that run throughout the retreat. The corporate company will find the most success and benefits when they set clear goals for the retreat. These goals will guide the retreat planners to focus on creating programs that will meet the objectives.
Team Building
A strong team can overcome many obstacles, and most companies attempt to hire a strong team without investing time and energy into each individual. A team can become one unit when they have to work through problems and build something bigger than them.
Team building activities such as working through an escape room, some fun cooking or baking classes, or group experiences that are new to everyone such as surfing or hiking. These activities will assist the team to think as one, solving problems outside the office.
Company retreat planners should not pick events or activities where individuals on the team will not cooperate due to fear. Individuals with a fear of heights might not enjoy climbing up the side of the mountain. Focus purely on the team and find creative ways to bring them together.
Improved Communication and Collaboration
Clear and precise communication will take a team to new heights. Most often than not, a lack of precise communication will be the downfall of a team. Some individuals do not know how to communicate with others. This is more so when faced with conflict towards each other.
Increased Employee Engagement
A team can perform at its peak once a group of individuals can raise their voices with critically thought-out answers or questions. It is the team manager that is responsible for creating the atmosphere for team members to feel empowered to engage.
A event planner can use the time away from the office to allow individuals to engage. Not only will this add value to the team and the business, but moreover the individuals will feel that they are valuable and have great insight to provide.
Certain activities build employee engagement. The planner must focus on the individuals where each individual will have an equal opportunity to showcase their strengths and ideas. This will ensure that the team’s engagement is open and that every individual’s input is valuable.
Boosted Morale
A retreat can bring the team together on various levels. The activities themselves can provide the team with a space to bond and work together, while their off time can boost their morale. The individuals on the team will feel appreciated and cared for which will build morale as well as show the value they add to the team and the business.
Boosting morale must be a focus for the retreat planner. Certain activities will boost morale while others build teamwork. Specific activities such as individuals eating and cooking together, or hikes and boat rides. These activities allow members to converse with each other without having to focus on a task.
Companies can add themes to some activities to ensure that the team has fun while away from the office. Respecting an individual’s time is key to planning a retreat. The team members must enjoy and connect without feeling forced.
Enhanced Creativity
Creativity can be a mere act of solving problems. Every individual on the team will provide their skills and creativity. The retreat will be a great environment to allow individuals to showcase and enhance their creativity through activities.
Most individuals will have a creative idea or solution to solving a problem. The manager must work endlessly to ensure that the team can use its creativity to enhance the team. Forcing individuals to think outside the box without the help of others will enhance their creativity.
Smaller groups are a great way managers can insure creative thinking. The smaller teams will provide a safe space for team members to raise their opinions. Team members will have the opportunity to hear how others think, which will provide them with input and time to change and work on their creativity.
Choosing a Corporate Retreat Planner
Deciding on a retreat planner is as important as deciding on hosting a retreat. The importance of the planner is unmeasurable. The team of planners must be able to identify and create activities and tasks that will suit the team and have the connections to secure great deals for the business.
Criteria for Selecting a Planner
The first criterion for a retreating planner or team must be honesty. The planner must be able to provide honest and truthful insight to the managers and business owners. The second part of honesty is communication. A planner must be able to communicate clearly. Problems do occur throughout the planning, and the depth of it will be based on communicating it with the managers and teams.
A planner must be able to listen actively. Listening will provide the planner with insight and guidelines about what the company wants exactly. This can be difficult for some planners due to their willingness to provide their input and ideas. The active listening skills will come in handy throughout the planning of the retreat.
The last bit of criterion of a planner must be that they are a team player. The team’s needs must be a priority. The retreat focuses on the company team, not on the planner’s brilliance. Everything done must be for the benefit of the team members of the company.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Planner
As a corporate company, questioning the planner will allow the team to assess the planners that they want to hire. The questions can ensure that the team hired can do the best job possible. Not all planners can create and build a corporate retreat. These planners of an instinct toward team bonding and employee retreat.
Here are some questions companies can ask the retreat planner at hand. These questions are not to push the planner into a corner but rather to assess whether they would be able to do the job. Not all questions are essential, however, asking some of these key questions can save the company time and money later in the process.
Importance of Research and References
As a hiring corporation, the business must do its research. Hiring a planner can take some time out of the day, but can save the company money and time in the long run. Some form of research is simply looking for the company or team they want to hire online and on social media.
By scanning through a website and various forms of social media, the planning company can create credibility. These platforms will provide the hiring company with clear images and text on what the company does and what its standard of service is. These platforms will provide the company with some references that they can call.
References are opinions from other hiring companies based on the retreat planning company. This will show the business exactly what other companies think and feel after the service was delivered. If the reviews and references are positive the company can feel safe. Continue with the hiring by knowing they are in the best pair of hands.
f there are negative reviews, the business must analyze and asses these comments to ensure the hiring of the company. The business can ask the planning corporate retreat company to provide a set of references.
Planning Corporate Team Building Retreats
When it comes to the planning of a retreat the planner must focus on achieving the goals and objectives set by the business managers. This objective will provide clear guidelines that the planning company can follow to ensure a successful retreat for full-time office or remote working employees.
Types of Retreats
There are multiple options for company retreat to choose from. The type of retreat will be determined by the goals set by the company for the retreat. Team building will have a different theme and activities as a brainstorming retreat.
The different corporate retreat a company can use is a team-building retreat. This focus is primarily on building up a team and working on communication. This retreat requires the entire team with the managers to attend for it to have the necessary impact.
Another example is a product launch and brainstorming retreat. These retreats focus on learning how new products work, to ensure that they can sell the item to their customers. Or brainstorming retreats, where teams sit with problems to solve. Brainstorming can focus on creative ideas to build brand awareness or grow the business.
The last company retreat can be an event or a gathering for a few hours. These events are new experiences for the entire team. A wine-tasting, cooking class, or a casual hike are great examples of these types of retreats. Different company retreats will build meaningful relationships among team members which will lead to a company culture that are stronger.
Choosing a Location
The retreat location can make or break the retreat. When deciding on a location the company has to consider a few elements. The destination can not be too far to travel to. The distance can lead to employees feeling aggravated and irritated about traveling the distance. The traveling must be paid for by the company non the less, however, it can cause friction if the destination is too far.
The destination must be able to host the number of team members comfortably. This refers to the halls where the conferences will be held, as well as planned activities. If surfing classes are on the itinerary and the company decides on a venue in the mountains the activities will not be accessible. Pick a retreat location that accommodates the activities and the team.
Creating a Budget
A set budget sets the foundation for any corporate event. A budget will ensure that the company does not spend more money on an event than what they have. A budget will also provide the planning team with guidelines as to what to spend money on, and what to avoid.
Creating a budget plays a key role in what the outcome and goals are for a company retreat. The focus of a budget should be to cover all expenses.
First and foremost the company must provide specific allocations for the finances based on what they see as important. By providing this information the planning team will ensure that the overarching goal and theme are planned within the financial budget.
Developing an Itinerary
Creating an itinerary is what will fill the days or hours set out for the company retreat. An itinerary is an exact activity and the time it will occur. This is essentially the program that will be provided to the team, the managers, the venue hosts, the catering, and the activity runner.
Providing all of the key players of the event with the program will ensure that the individuals are prepared and on time for their duty or obligations throughout the day, weekend, or week of the retreat.
Check Out Entrepreneur Strategy Session- How to Host a Company Retreat:
Recap of Benefits of Corporate Retreats
There are many benefits to a corporate retreat. The company can have insight from the employees or are on the ground, working with the customers, products, and services. The team can raise concerns and problems they face daily.
A corporate retreat can be used to build team spirit and cooperation which will strengthen overall teamwork. Or boost morale which will motivate the team to head back to work with high spirits and confidence.
Importance of Hiring a Professional Planner
Professional planners have the knowledge and expertise to ensure a successful event. These professionals have done all the research that will provide the company with great venues, amazing activities, and healthy food that will ensure a productive meeting.
Professional planners use regular catering and venue hires which are reliable. This will save the business money and time, sourcing a venue and working through multiple options, trying to find reliable and resourceful choices.
Professional planners can create the ideal event for the goals set by the company. These individuals have the expertise to build the retreat within the budget. Most planning teams will be able to evaluate the return on investment and the success of the next retreat.
Encouragement for Businesses to Invest in Corporate Retreats for their Employees
The benefits out way the risks for a company retreat. A company can add value to its employees by scheduling regular retreats. The individuals will return to work, with full confidence and a willingness to grow the business.
Most corporate companies focus on the financial loss that can be connected to retreats, however, the business can essentially increase profits from employees that work harder to add more value. These company retreats are an investment in the business and its employees. And the hard work the employees provide will be reaped.
Corporate Retreat Planner: FAQs
What Is a Company Retreat?
A company retreat is when a group or team has the opportunity to meet outside of working hours, at a different location. This can include a weekend away where there will be teambuilding and morale-boosting activities.
What Are the Benefits of Company Retreats?
The benefits of a company retreat are team building and boosting morale. Other benefits are to encourage innovation and spark creativity.
How Do You Structure a Retreat?
The structure of a retreat should focus on the objective and goals set by the company. After stating clear and precise goals a budget must be drawn up. This will create set guidelines that will set the structure for the retreat.
What Is the Purpose of a Company Retreat?
The purpose of retreats can differ between corporate businesses. The main idea behind a corporate retreat is to ensure that the team can connect outside of normal business hours and venue. This will ensure that they connect and learn more about each other and the business.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a Corporate retreat planner is a great investment for a company. These professionals will ensure that all retreats achieve the goals and objectives while staying within the budget. These planners will create the perfect retreat that will lead to team building and a boost in morale and individual values.
Setting time for retreats can be tricky. Every individual has a different after-work schedule and tasks to complete. However, these retreats will strengthen the team if done on a regular base. Companies must take the time, invest in a planner and schedule a corporate retreat event.
