Planning the Company Retreat

Company retreats are often held in order to gain company morale, motivate and improve employee communication.

Attending a company retreat can be fun and exciting. It can also provide an opportunity to show your leadership and creative skills outside of a work setting. However, planning the retreat can be incredibly stressful! It's the planner's job to make sure employees not only have fun but also gain knowledge and skills in the process. What are some steps to take to ensure the company retreat is a success?

Make sure you plan well in advance.

People need notice due to family obligations and other outside responsibilities. Plan at least six months ahead of time, longer for large groups, so you and the attendees are prepared! It's hard to book the perfect venue just a couple of months ahead as many resorts and hotels tend to book up fast for corporate events, trade shows and other occasions within the vicinity.

Location is a key ingredient.

If you expect employees to travel far away, you must take into consideration the cost of transportation. Also keep in mind that some resorts specifically cater to company retreats. You may be able to book an entire lodge for a couple of days to yourselves, therefore allowing you to have access to meeting rooms and cafeterias whenever it suits the need rather than working around other group timelines.

Develop a specific agenda and stick to it.

Decide ahead of time how many days the retreat will be. Usually one or two nights are sufficient. Be prepared for the unexpected such as broken equipment, bad weather, power outages or overlapping meeting rooms with other guests who may be staying at your hotel or resort. During the planning process you also want to clearly state the reason why you are holding this retreat. If it is group motivation, create workshops that include participation. Don't tell the employees they are heading off to focus on team building if you are going to just have them sit and listen to a speaker every day. Develop workshops to get creative juices flowing and encourage everyone to think outside-of-the-box.

Remember everyone deserves down time.

Schedule workshops in the morning to allow for relaxation and exploration in the afternoon and evening. Have snacks throughout the day and allow for occasional coffee breaks. While the retreat is supposed to be a fun time, some people still require their personal space and time. Spending 24-7 with coworkers isn't always everyone's cup of tea!

Show appreciation for staff participation.

A great way to show appreciation is by throwing a dinner on the last night. You may want to arrange for awards to be distributed as well to those people who have most improved, demonstrated outstanding team support and helped accomplish team goals. If you show your employees gratitude, giving their personal time to partake in a retreat won't feel like a chore. Instead, it will feel like a great time to connect with one another.