What comes to your mind when you think about a company retreat? Other than including enough fun and work-related activities, it’s also a really good time to accomplish way more with a larger group of people. For instance, you can conduct activities to boost morale and strategize on the company’s future. You can also increase teamwork efficiency and encourage a deeper understanding between colleagues and departments. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some effective methods to getting the best out of your trip together:
Have a Plan in Mind
Whether you’re choosing to have fun or work or a combination of sorts for the retreat, it’s always best to have your ideas prepared beforehand. This gives you the opportunity to pre-inform everyone who’s going about what is likely to take place. You also have the chance to prepare a backup plan just in case your first choice suddenly goes down the drain. Either way, it’ll ensure that you get the most out of your retreat time without all the unnecessary delays.
Learn from the Past
Whether or not you were involved with previous company retreats in this company, you should still gather some information to better prepare for the next one. From attendee feedbacks to planned activities, you’ll get to know exactly what works and what doesn’t and what you can do to achieve or exceed the goals of the next retreat. This also gives you the opportunity to include things that people do look forward to and schedule the duration of the trip to maximize positive results.
Try to Include Everyone in the Company
There’s bound to be some who can’t make it for the retreat. This doesn’t mean they still can’t take part in it. You can always hold a teleconferencing session where they can chip in from their end. Otherwise, you can also start a collaborative board which they can contribute to whenever they are available. Including as many people as possible also means that more people are on board and informed about the company’s activities.
Research on Packages
You’ll be surprised at just how many places offer corporate packages. From transfers and excursions to facilities and catering, there’s always room for discounts and rebates. This also means that you don’t have to go through the hassle of planning everything individually. Most venues are happy to provide a group discount since it means a larger revenue at one go for them.
Remember to Have Fun
You’re already meeting regularly for work so one aspect of a retreat is usually to get to know each other more outside of work and to have fun. There are many ways to go about this: from having a big family-style meal at a local restaurant, having an annual sports tournament which people can look forward to and team-building activities that help to foster a stronger bond. At the end of the day, one of the best outcomes from a trip together is the shared experiences and a deeper understanding of each other.
Large groups can be cumbersome when it comes to transport and getting around. Since it’s a company retreat, it’ll be good to splurge a little and have everyone enjoy the convenience of a chauffeur-driven car with our St. Louis limo service. Not only would everyone get to ride in luxury, but you’ll also get to be on time for any activity you have in mind.