When your staff members return from a corporate event, you want them to come back as a refreshed, more cohesive team – one that is ready to tackle pressing business issues. Unfortunately, poorly-planned corporate getaways can be expensive events that accomplish very little. Following these three tips can help you realize the main objectives of your corporate getaway.
#1 – Get out of town: Holding a corporate getaway just a few miles from the office is a bad idea for several reasons. There’s a chance that employees will simply go home at night, so the atmosphere won’t be much different than a regular day at the office. Also, if you’re hoping to solve a major problem or develop a new strategy during the corporate getaway, getting everyone away from their normal surroundings is an excellent way to get them to truly focus on the task at hand. On top of all that, going to a place they’ve never been will make the corporate getaway seem like more of a treat to employees than a chore.
#2 – State your expectations: There are rules at the office, so there’s no reason why a few can’t be established during a corporate getaway as well. Outline your expectations at the beginning of the event, or even several days or weeks in advance. Drinking, drug use, and “sleeping arrangements” are all things you might want to address.
#3 – Make the getaway a mix of business and pleasure: A well-balanced itinerary for a corporate getaway can include meetings, seminars, and business discussions. Just be sure to throw in plenty of enjoyable activities as well.