Business executives have found staff retreats pay dividends. How much is subjective. But some suggest getaways can power employee productivity more than paid vacations.
The question is how. Sluggish employees and inefficiencies can be a vicious cycle few businesses know how to break. Yet growing evidence suggests corporate retreats — even small-scale affairs over a weekend — can lift morale and the bottom line.
Once considered lavish junkets, and sometimes mocked for contrived team-building ploys like trust falls, the staff retreat is making a comeback. And the reason is easier to see than your spreadsheet trend line: Companies are figuring out how to have fun. To start, get rid of the PowerPoints. Encourage your employees to get out of the weeds and discuss big-picture ideas. Throw out some new goals and find a way to foster brainstorming. Don’t worry about splurging on a big-name guest speaker. After all, you’ve invested in your employees — harness the innovative thinking from them.
Make sure to stage your retreat in a relaxing setting. Those office walls can get pretty confining, no matter how many modern colors you paint them. If you want your workers to clear their heads and think differently, put them in an atmosphere that puts them at ease.
Bed and breakfasts often feature a nice blend of indoor amenities and outdoor attractions that inspire. When prepping for a productive staff retreat, picking the location is key. Just remember it is OK — maybe even better — to go small and to try the unknown. The key to supplying your staff a fresh perspective is putting them in a new environment where they can try new things.
Kinda like a vacation.