Many organizations have experienced a rapid shift toward remote and hybrid work models as a result of the pandemic. Employees who work remotely do not come into the office and instead work from home or another location outside of the office. Hybrid work is a mix of remote and in-office work in which employees may come into the office on certain days of the week or month and work remotely on others.
The transition to remote and hybrid work has been enabled by technological advancements, particularly the widespread use of the internet and cloud-based tools, which have made it easier for people to communicate and collaborate remotely. To facilitate remote communication and collaboration, many organizations have adopted virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, or even Loom for better asynchronous work efficiency.
The transition to remote and hybrid work also has a number of advantages, including increased employee flexibility and work-life balance, as well as the ability for organizations to access a larger pool of talent. It has, however, presented challenges, such as the need to ensure that employees have the resources and support they need to work effectively from home, as well as the need to manage communication and collaboration across multiple locations (read more about why companies should allow remote work).
To ensure the success of companies with remote/hybrid models, it is critical to establish clear guidelines and expectations for remote work. This may include setting expectations for communication, establishing guidelines for when employees are expected to be available and how to track their progress, and providing the necessary tools and resources to support remote work.
Why team retreats?
A team retreat is a period of time during which a team, typically from a business or other organization, takes a break from their regular work and meets in a different location for the purpose of planning, problem-solving, brainstorming, training, or team-building. Retreats can last a few hours, a full day, or several days and can take place in a variety of settings, including a conference center, a hotel, a retreat center, or even a remote location.
Team retreats can help companies improve communication and collaboration among team members, foster trust and teamwork, and boost morale, engagement, and motivation. Retreats are especially beneficial for companies that are hybrid or remote-first because they allow team members to meet in person and strengthen their bonds with one another.
Companies can use team retreat activities and discussions to focus on the unique aspects of their business model and how to effectively incorporate them into teamwork. A company with a focus on sustainability, for example, may use a team retreat to discuss how the team can work together to further the company’s sustainability goals.
Overall, team retreats can be a valuable investment for companies because they can help teams work more effectively and efficiently, leading to increased productivity and success.
Planning a team retreat
The key to a successful team retreat is careful planning and involving the team in the planning process to ensure that it meets the team’s needs and goals. Consider the following key steps:
1. Set specific goals
Before you plan the retreat, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. This will help you in creating a focused and effective retreat.
2. Involve the team in planning
Involving team members in the retreat planning process can help to increase excitement and buy-in. Consider gathering feedback on the retreat’s location, activities, and agenda.
3. Choose a suitable location
Choose a location that is convenient for all team members and has the necessary facilities and amenities to support the retreat.
4. Plan a mix of activities
To keep things interesting and engaging, include a mix of structured and unstructured activities, such as workshops, team-building exercises, and social activities.
5. Set ground rules
Set clear expectations for behavior and communication during the retreat to ensure that everyone has a positive and productive experience.
6. Follow up after the retreat
After the retreat, it’s important to follow up with team members and review what was learned and accomplished. This can help to keep the retreat’s momentum and progress going.
Will you make the move to more offsites?
Sounds like too much of a hassle? Say no more!
Midstay helps you in planning and organizing your team retreat, automating the time-consuming parts so you can focus on what is most important. You can customize your retreat to fit your company’s events and needs, such as annual planning, staff onboarding, business summits, and rewarding.
No need to worry about accommodation, food, or transportation because Midstay handles everything, allowing you and your team to maximize your time during the retreat!
We offer productive activities you can invest in for your team such as:
1. Business workshops
Bringing industry experts to speak, teach, and motivate your team. Covering topics such as team building workshops, design thinking, business model canvas, creativity workshop, digital transformation, agile&scrum methodology, lean startup, social connections, and personal development.
2. Outdoor Activities
Connect deeper with your team by doing escapes together such as hiking volcanoes, waterfalls discovering, surfing, yoga, meditation, cooking classes, bamboo workshop, pottery, paragliding, diving, and boat trips.
3. Content creation for Company Branding
You got a fantastic company culture, we support you to communicate about it during your experience by creating high-quality pictures and video content you can display on your social media, employee interviews, and LinkedIn testimonials.
The best part is, you can organize your team retreat anywhere, even abroad in APAC (Asia and Pacific) region – which makes it more exciting!
Handprint, a forward-thinking Climate Tech startup based in Singapore has trusted Midstay to bring 30+ of their employees to Bali, as well as establish their popup office in a villa.
This results in:
- Their team members increased by 2,5x in productivity and engagement
- Their employee turnover was reduced by 1,5x
- Their career page got 5x more views; as they communicated well on their great company culture
- They used this as a convincing argument to hire their newest talents! Indeed, they succeeded to hire someone that was initially hunted by Google.
Interested in creating an amazing company culture?
Learn more about Midstay’s Team Retreat service or get a demo for free.
