16 Proven Reasons To Plan An Offsite
Incorporate one or more of these into your next team retreat and plan the most engaging, highest ROI offsite possible
On average, companies spend $2000-$3000 per person, per offsite.
Naturally, you (and your CFO) want to ensure any offsites that your company plans come with ROI, and that comes with being intentional about what you’re trying to accomplish.
Here are some of the main reasons “why” you should plan an offsite.
And as always, when you’re ready, make a free account at Offsite to save up to 40% on your next team retreat (as well as dozens/hundreds of planning hours).
1. Team-Building
“Great teams do not hold back with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.” — Patrick Lencioni
Your people are your greatest asset. Increasing employee engagement, retention, and alignment is as much about how various team members collaborate with one another as the individual employee experience.
While “team-building” is the top answer we hear from clients when we ask them why they are planning any given offsite, few know exactly what that means when pressed.
Offsites are a great way to:
Strengthen Relationships: By encouraging employees to “make friends at work” and build personal connections in a relaxed, non-work environment.
Improve Collaboration Skills: Through team-building activities (no trust falls though, please) designed to improve empathy, communication, and problem-solving among other team-building attributes.
Enhance Morale: Fun and engaging activities can boost overall employee morale and job satisfaction.
Every team is different, and we’d have to learn more about your unique company culture during onboarding in order to plan a customized, transformational offsite for you and your team.
But in general, team retreats should almost always incorporate some sessions around team-building in order to justify the investment and ensure a meaningful outcome for your company.
2. Strategic Planning
“Strategic planning is a process, not a product.” - Clayton Christensen
Strategic planning is crucial for steering the company towards its long-term objectives. Offsites offer the perfect environment for these discussions, free from the usual daily distractions.
Use your next offsite to:
Set Long-Term Goals: Facilitate in-depth discussions on the company’s vision and long-term objectives. These sessions help align everyone on the future direction and define the steps needed to get there.
Identify Opportunities and Challenges: Provide a platform for identifying potential opportunities and challenges in the market. This proactive approach allows the company to stay ahead of competitors and be prepared for any hurdles.
Develop Actionable Roadmaps: Develop clear, actionable plans to achieve strategic goals. By breaking down objectives into manageable tasks, the team can work more efficiently and effectively towards common goals.
For more on this subject, you can read: How To Facilitate A 90 Minute “Strategic Planning” Session At Your Next Offsite.
By dedicating time for strategic planning, companies can ensure that all team members are aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and values.
3. Increasing Cross-Department Collaboration
"Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives." - Stephen Covey
Cross-department collaboration is essential for a cohesive and efficient working environment. Offsites provide an opportunity for different departments to interact, share knowledge, and work together towards common goals.
Use your next team retreat to:
Break Down Silos: Encourage interaction between different departments, fostering a more cohesive working environment. Breaking down these silos can lead to better communication and collaboration across the company.
Promote Knowledge Sharing: Create opportunities for departments to share their expertise with each other. This exchange of information can lead to innovative ideas and improved processes.
Align Goals: Ensure that departmental goals are aligned with the overall objectives of the company. Unified goals lead to a more focused and driven workforce.
This is especially critical for remote-first and hybrid companies, who must rely on async communication more than in-office organizations.
Encouraging cross-department collaboration through offsites can significantly enhance the overall productivity and efficiency of the company in the weeks and months following each team retreat.
4. Celebrating Important Milestones
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” - Oprah Winfrey
Celebrating milestones is an excellent way to recognize the hard work and achievements of the team. Offsites provide the perfect setting to celebrate these accomplishments in a meaningful way.
Offsites are a great way to:
Recognize Achievements: Publicly acknowledge the hard work and successes of the team. This recognition can boost morale and motivate employees to continue performing at their best.
Boost Morale: Celebrations can significantly boost team spirit and job satisfaction. A happy and motivated team is more likely to be productive and committed to their work.
Encourage Future Success: Set a positive tone for future goals and achievements. Celebrating milestones reinforces the importance of striving for excellence and continuous improvement.
I love the exercise Jordan from Hampton shared on LinkedIn the other day, about how they run an annual awards experience with love and personality.
Read our case study: Custom experiences and VIP treatment for Hampton’s first-ever All-Hands Meeting
You can also plan President’s Clubs, holiday parties, and industry awards galas to more formally celebrate your team and clients, but celebrating is an important part of any offsite however you decide to do it.
5. Building Trust and Intimacy
"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." – Ernest Hemingway
Building trust and intimacy within the team is crucial for effective communication and collaboration. Offsites provide an environment where employees can get to know each other on a personal level, fostering trust and camaraderie.
Plan during your next corporate retreat to:
Foster Personal Connections: Help employees get to know each other on a personal level, beyond work tasks. Personal connections can strengthen the overall team dynamic.
Encourage Vulnerability and Openness: Activities that encourage vulnerability can lead to deeper, more meaningful connections. This openness can improve communication and collaboration within the team.
Build Trust through Unique Shared Experiences: Specific exercises designed to build trust within the team can enhance overall team cohesion and effectiveness.
Building trust and intimacy through offsites can significantly improve the overall working relationships within the company.
6. Cultural and Informational Alignment
"Culture eats strategy for breakfast." – Peter Drucker
Cultural and informational alignment is key to maintaining a unified and motivated workforce. Offsites provide a platform to reinforce the company’s mission, vision, and values, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Offsites are a great way to:
Reinforce Company Values: Reinforce the company’s mission, vision, and values. This alignment helps employees understand and embody the company culture.
Integrate New Hires: Ensure all employees, especially new hires, are integrated into the company culture. A strong cultural foundation can lead to a more cohesive and motivated team.
Share Critical Information: Provide a platform for sharing critical information and updates about the company. This transparency can enhance trust and alignment within the team.
Cultural and informational alignment through offsites can ensure that all team members are working towards the same goals and values.
7. Employee Engagement and Retention
"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." - Henry Ford
Engaging and retaining employees is crucial for the long-term success of any company. Offsites can significantly enhance job satisfaction and reduce turnover rates.
Consider the following when planning your next offsite:
Enhance Job Satisfaction: Engaging activities can make employees feel more satisfied with their jobs. Satisfied employees are more likely to stay with the company and perform at their best.
Reduce Turnover: A positive, engaging company culture can reduce employee turnover rates. Retaining top talent is essential for maintaining a competitive edge.
Gather Feedback and Improve: Provide an opportunity to gather feedback from employees and implement improvements. Listening to employees and addressing their concerns can enhance overall job satisfaction.
For more on this, read: How Well-Planned Offsites Lead to Increased Employee Engagement, Retention, and Alignment At Your Company
By focusing on employee engagement and retention, companies can ensure a motivated and committed workforce.
8. Innovation and Creativity
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." – Alan Kay
Innovation and creativity are essential for staying competitive in today’s fast-paced market. Offsites provide the perfect environment for brainstorming new ideas and fostering creative problem-solving.
Offsites are a great way to:
Facilitate Brainstorming Sessions: Create a conducive environment for brainstorming sessions where new ideas can be explored and developed.
Encourage Creative Problem Solving: Encourage creative approaches to solving business challenges. Innovative thinking can lead to breakthroughs and improvements.
Host Innovation Workshops: Engage employees in workshops designed to foster innovative thinking. These sessions can inspire employees to think outside the box and develop new solutions.
Fostering innovation and creativity through offsites can help the company stay ahead of the competition and continuously improve.
9. Leadership Development
"The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership." – Harvey S. Firestone
Developing future leaders is crucial for the sustained success of any company. Offsites provide an excellent opportunity to identify and nurture potential leaders.
Offsites are a great way to:
Identify Future Leaders: Identify potential future leaders within the company. These individuals can be nurtured and developed to take on leadership roles in the future.
Develop Leadership Skills: Provide opportunities for leadership skill development. Training and development sessions can enhance the capabilities of potential leaders.
Strengthen Mentorship Programs: Establish or strengthen mentorship programs. Mentorship can provide valuable guidance and support for emerging leaders.
Focusing on leadership development through offsites can ensure a strong and capable leadership team for the future.
10. Health and Wellbeing
"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." – Jim Rohn
Promoting health and wellbeing is essential for maintaining a productive and motivated workforce. Offsites can provide activities and programs designed to enhance physical and mental health.
Think about how you can help your team:
Reduce Stress: Provide activities designed to reduce stress and promote wellbeing. Relaxation and mindfulness sessions can help employees recharge.
Encourage Work-Life Balance: Encourage a healthy work-life balance among employees. Time away from the usual work environment can help employees relax and rejuvenate.
Promote Wellbeing Programs: Implement programs that promote physical and mental health. These programs can lead to happier, healthier employees.
The YPO Las Vegas chapter recently hired us to help execute their couples retreat, which is a great example of an alternative use for offsites.
While it wasn’t a company retreat or corporate offsite per-se, some of the programming (yoga sessions, healthy meals, dancing, sessions around non-violent communication and positive self-expression exercises) can be added to your upcoming team retreat.
11. Learning and Development
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." – Benjamin Franklin
Continuous learning and development are crucial for keeping employees engaged and skilled. Offsites provide an opportunity for training and professional growth.
Offsites are a great way to:
Offer Training Sessions: Provide training sessions to enhance employees’ skills and knowledge. Continuous learning can lead to improved performance and innovation.
Engage in Workshops and Seminars: Engage employees in workshops and seminars for professional development. These sessions can inspire new ideas and approaches.
Encourage Continuous Learning: Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Encouraging employees to continuously develop their skills can lead to a more capable and innovative workforce.
Focusing on learning and development through offsites can ensure that employees are always growing and improving.
12. Community Building
"It takes a village to build something great." – Unknown
Building a strong sense of community within the company is essential for a supportive and inclusive work environment. Offsites provide the perfect setting for fostering this sense of community.
Add sessions into your next team retreat that will:
Foster Inclusivity: Create an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and included. Inclusivity can lead to a more cohesive and motivated team.
Engage in Social Responsibility: Engage in activities that give back to the community. Social responsibility can enhance the company’s reputation and employee satisfaction.
Build a Support Network: Help employees build a strong internal support network. A supportive work environment can lead to increased job satisfaction and reduced turnover.
Fostering community building through offsites can create a positive and supportive work environment.
13. Feedback and Communication
"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, even if that vision becomes extremely blurry." - Unknown
Effective communication is essential for a smooth and efficient working environment. Offsites provide an opportunity to enhance communication and gather valuable feedback.
Offsites are a great way to:
Provide Open Forums: Offer a platform for open communication and feedback. Open forums can enhance transparency and trust within the team.
Address Concerns: Provide a forum for addressing and resolving employee concerns. Addressing concerns promptly can lead to increased job satisfaction.
Enhance Transparency: Improve transparency within the company. Transparent communication can lead to a more informed and motivated workforce.
Enhancing feedback and communication through offsites can lead to a more cohesive and efficient working environment.
14. More Face-To-Face Time
"Digital communication is completely different from in-person, face-to-face conversations. One will give you surface insights, and the other really gives you depth. - Joe Gebbia
In a remote-first company, face-to-face time is a rare and valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships and enhance communication.
Offsites provide a unique chance for team members to connect in person, fostering a deeper sense of camaraderie and collaboration. It is also the best way to share sensitive information, whether it is a pending acquisition, or a RIF, etc.
Think about how your offsite will:
Strengthen Personal Connections: Allow team members to meet in person, fostering stronger personal relationships. These connections can improve teamwork and communication in a remote setting.
Enhance Non-Verbal Communication: Provide opportunities for non-verbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, to enrich communication. Face-to-face interactions can reduce misunderstandings and enhance clarity.
Create Memorable Experiences: Create shared memories through in-person activities and events. These experiences can serve as a foundation for stronger team cohesion and morale.
By prioritizing more face-to-face time through offsites, companies can strengthen their remote teams, enhancing communication, trust, and overall job satisfaction.
15. Productivity Boost
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." – Walt Disney
Boosting productivity is essential for achieving company goals and objectives. Offsites provide an opportunity to focus on important projects and improve overall productivity.
Offsites are a great way to:
Provide Focused Work Sessions: Offer dedicated time for focused work on important projects. Focused work sessions can lead to improved productivity and results.
Minimize Distractions: Remove daily distractions, allowing employees to concentrate fully on their work. A distraction-free environment can lead to higher quality work.
Boost Motivation: Inspire and motivate employees to perform at their best. Motivated employees are more likely to be productive and committed to their work.
Focusing on boosting productivity through offsites can help the company achieve its goals more efficiently.
16. Celebrating Company Success
"Success is best when it's shared." – Howard Schultz
Celebrating company success is essential for recognizing achievements and boosting morale. Offsites provide the perfect setting to celebrate these successes in a meaningful way.
Can you:
Share Company Announcements: Offer a platform for making major company announcements. Sharing successes can boost morale and motivate employees.
Highlight Success Stories: Share success stories and milestones with the team. Highlighting achievements can inspire employees to strive for excellence.
Recognize Team Achievements: Recognize and reward team achievements. Public recognition can enhance job satisfaction and motivate employees to continue performing at their best.
After hitting the Inc 5000 list, our client Socium Media planned their annual offsite with the goal of celebrating record growth. They hosted an all pink party among other parties and outings (you can read more in our case study: From Planning Retreats Internally To Using Offsite - Why Socium Media Switched).
Other Specific Reasons To Plan An Offsite:
In the last few years, we’ve planned hundreds of offsites globally, including
All-Hands Meetings
Executive Team Retreats
Board Meetings
Sales Kickoffs
President’s Clubs
Marketing Team, Product Team, and Other Department-Specific Offsites
Customer Conferences
EO, YPO, and other CEO peer group meetings
Learning & Development “onsites” / onboarding sessions
Ski Trips, Golf Outings, and other client appreciation trips
And further still, investment banks will do “road shows” when helping a company with their IPO (which could be an “offsite” of sorts).
Law firms have partner meetings, and corporates do senior leadership team offsites with C-suite executives down to VPs.
In short, there are many reasons to plan an offsite.
And Offsite can help you save time, money, and stress when planning your next offsite through our Airbnb-style marketplace, and we can also help you plan your agenda, budget, and overall attendee experience for best results and highest ROI if you’d like!
Click here to make a free account or reach out at jared@offsite.com to continue the conversation (and thanks for reading).