At some point early in the year, most organisations plan their ‘Company Event’ where the whole team downs tools and goes off-site for a couple of days to bond, relax and think deeply. I’ve attended and facilitated a fair number of these over the years. Here’s what I feel is the recipe for success.
1 Get Back to Nature
Most people work in built-up urban environments, so try and get away from it all. Within an hour or two of most cities, you’ll find idyllic rural retreats. Green fields, fresh air, sheep, and cows are all good for the soul. Don’t go to another cool city. They’re too familiar. Go green instead. Where possible, travel there together. It can be part of the bonding experience.
2 Cook Together
If numbers allow, go self-catering. All you need is a bit of planning and a supermarket delivery service. It works for so many reasons. You can share responsibilities for different elements of the dining experience. People bond in the kitchen. Many people love to cook. And you see people in a completely different light. Who knew the office manager is an amazing pastry chef?
If people really hate cooking, they can take charge of drinks and create fancy cocktails instead. Or hand out nibbles. Or take charge of the Spotify Playlist. There’s a job for everyone.
3 Focus on the Big Stuff
Leave the mundane day-to-day issues back at the office. Instead, focus on the really important challenges facing your business. The long term, the tough stuff that keeps you up at night. The harder the better. This is the best time to have a good crack at them. If relevant, invite a guest speaker as a source of inspiration or get some external input to help manage certain topics, but don’t shy away from them. Now’s the time.
4 Cross Fertilise
Break up the cosy cliques. Make sure people who don’t normally work together get the chance to connect. Allow everyone to contribute and share. Don’t let the usual suspects dominate the proceedings. Keep mixing and matching groups for every session. You’ll meet new people and discover lots of new stuff. Who knows, you could make new life-long friends.
5 Build in Downtime
The Company Event shouldn’t be all about work. Allow space for relaxation and disconnection. People need space to really switch off. You can make it as planned or unplanned as you want. Just make sure there’s time for it. Some organisations like to organise specific activities - yoga, bike riding, something sporty. Others simply give people time to chill. Whatever works for you.
6 Celebrate
Organisations rarely celebrate great people or notable achievements. They just move on to the next thing. Whilst you’re all together, off-site, now’s the time to do it. Spread the love. Think about the ‘unsung heroes’ whose vital work often goes unnoticed or unacknowledged. Don’t go mad. It’s not about the reward itself it’s about the public recognition. No need to hand out free trips to Las Vegas (unless you really want to.) However you do it, just make sure it’s heartfelt and meaningful.
So in summary:
Plan your Company Event carefully. It’s valuable time together and can set the tone for the whole year. Great company events live long in the memory and become part of the organisation’s folklore. They’re worth investing in.