Corporate retreats are valuable opportunities for companies to connect on new levels with their team and improve communication and camaraderie. The goal is to promote a more positive culture and bring your employees together to have some fun. Note, sitting in windowless conference rooms with endless speakers is not “fun” and is not likely to produce a more cohesive team.
Location is important and you may want to evaluate what the retreat location is subtly promoting. Las Vegas is a great city with wonderful retreat facilities, but do you really want alcohol and gambling to be a focus in your retreat? Choose a location that facilitates work and relaxation.
Change of Pace – getting outside the office allows your team to interact in different ways. Constrictions, even subtle ones, tend to ease with a change of venue and a more casual atmosphere. A corporate retreat should be just that, a “retreat”. Leave the business suits and stuffy office protocols back at the office and focus on creating an experience that doesn’t make everyone wish they were somewhere else.
Team Building – the best corporate retreats are ones that combine activities with important downtime and then regroups for discussion. Choose activities that are experiential and focus on pulling your team together. One of our most popular team building activities for corporate retreats is board breaking. Participants learn how powerful they truly are, breaking through limiting beliefs and old ways of thinking which translates into fresh energy and success in the office. Don’t underestimate the positive results of laughter and camaraderie as your team works through challenges.
Fresh Perspectives – a new project launch or a change in company direction is not accomplished in a bubble. Corporate retreats allow for brainstorming as a group, as well as important one on one time in a relaxed atmosphere outside of the office. Set a schedule that allows for think tank time. Encourage fresh ideas and less zombie approach.
Mission Commitment – employers want employees that are committed to the mission of the company. The most successful companies keep their mission fluid but defined and ask for input from employees on committing to and even rediscovering values for the mission statement. Teams that co-create with their Founders feel vested and that commitment reflects in their work.
Team Talents and Evaluation – by participating in experiential and empowering activities and being away from the daily grind, employees have a chance to see each other’s talents and strengths. Employers can also gain powerful insights as to hidden talents and strengths that come out in a corporate retreat atmosphere and may be utilized for upcoming projects.
Empowered Breakthroughs – challenges and obstacles are part of everyday life in corporate and personal lives. Empowering your team with activities that set the stage for them to break through fear and obstacles is smart. Feelings of success from empowering corporate retreats end up back in the office.
Corporate retreats that have employees raving and anticipating the next year require planning. A retreat facilitation committee is a great idea and involves your team right from the beginning. Need some planning ideas? How to Plan a Retreat from Inc. has some great approaches.
On August 21, Bill Hansen Catering held their first ever company retreat. After so many years of catering to others, they took a day to regroup as a team and have some fun. Fire Power Seminars was honored to be included as part of this team-building event!
“Connie and Karen are the consummate professionals who know their job and are able to interact and draw out the best in team members. I highly recommend that any firm wishing for an interactive team-building experience talk to these ladies before hiring another firm — THEY ROCK!” ~Bill Hansen
Fire Power Seminars would love to be part of the planning for your next corporate retreat. Our corporate retreats and training seminars are designed to leverage employee engagement to attain more productivity and greater results. Unlike most programs available in today’s business world, we offer powerful seminars that directly engage every participant, helping them recognize limiting mindsets and guiding them to creative alternatives. Contact us for corporate retreat planning!
Karen PfefferKaren is passionate about sharing powerful programs on communication, empowerment, team building and transformation. With a father from Kansas and a mother from Puerto Rico, Karen has a unique cultural mix that has inspired her to challenge stereotypes and “push the envelope” at every opportunity. She co-founded Fire Power Seminars with Connie Phelan in 2006 to empower individuals, organizations, and companies to achieve more than they ever thought possible.