Five Great Reasons to Plan a Staff Retreat Right Now

Let’s face it…we all pretty much lost a year of our lives didn’t we? We unexpectedly found ourselves consumed by health concerns for ourselves and our families, learning what social distancing means, and worrying about the state of the economy. And somewhere in all that, we may have also been learning new ways to do our jobs and hopefully, keep them!

Our hope is that as you read this, you and your loved ones are healthy and your lives are moving forward in strong and positive ways. We also hope that your profession has proven to be resilient and your team is ready for the next step!

With that in mind, here are some reasons that there has never been a better time to plan and host a company retreat:

1. Eye on the Prize

Research has proven time and again that a change of scenery can not only boost staff creativity but can enhance productivity! Being in a new space that is solely dedicated to a certain project or task will help your company gain more focus. Employees feel dedicated to the cause. Better focus leads to more productivity.

2. Getting The Band Back Together

After more than a year of Zooms and remote work, you are long overdue for some good, old-fashioned bonding! Team building activities, games, face-to-face debates and conversations will bring a renewed energy to your team, guaranteed!

3. Mix It Up to Fix it Up

Putting your heads together to work on an issue in a new environment generates new ways of thinking. You’ve all stared at the same dry erase board for long enough! Imagine how invigorated you and your colleagues will feel to see lovely green space outside and to be able to take a calming, flower-filled stroll during your breaks!

4. Show You the Money

Did you know that in the long run, you can actually save money by having a staff retreat? Especially if some of your team members live out of town. A staff retreat can be budget-friendly by helping your business save money throughout the year on:

Meetings without much advance notice, leading to more expensive short-notice flights and increased costs related to employee fatigue (and burnout): on the other hand, a business trip that’s planned months in advance leaves more room for scheduling and communication among colleagues, plus the increased “personal touch” between colleagues after a retreat helps make video meetings easier than ever.
Travel costs associated with the above: it’s more cost-efficient to book all tickets at once for the entire workforce in your company (and even capitalize on offers and package deals), rather than separately at different times.

However intangible the benefits are, when a corporate retreat is executed well, it can be a real financial boom to your company in terms of increased morale, productivity, and engagement.

5. Who’s a Rock Star? You’re a Rock Star!

A corporate staff retreat is the perfect time to recognize the various departments and areas of your business that others may not be familiar with and to bring some of your unrecognized groups to the forefront. Doing so opens up the channels of communication between siloed departments and supports employee engagement.

Ready to think outside the office box and unify your colleagues at the same time? Plan a staff retreat in a welcoming space with an agenda that includes some fun. You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot of great momentum to gain!

For more information about the terrific spaces for retreats at The Barn at Reynolda Village, give us a call at 336.758. BARN or visit us at our website. We can also help with an art activity and group exercise sessions.