It is common for employees to work under constant pressure, owing to the ever-present need to meet their objectives. This often creates tensions which are detrimental to team cohesion and performance. A staff retreat is a great means of solving such problems. It provides an opportunity for a company’s staff to get to know each other better, in order to work better together. By taking one or more days off, preferably away from the workplace, it is possible to concentrate on important questions, which, if solved, would have a positive and sometimes immediate impact on team performance.
Why choose a professional facilitator?
Many companies choose to organize and facilitate their team retreats themselves. The main drawback of doing so is that it keeps participants in their comfort zones, and sometimes the expected results are not attained. It is therefore more optimal to bring in an external facilitator;
- To encourage active participation and productively manage potential interpersonal tensions
- To structure and channel contributions into concrete actions (avoiding dispersion)
- To push participants out of their comfort zone and inspire new perspectives
- To create a pleasant and memorable experience
Orientation of the retreats
Depending on your company’s context and specific needs, team retreats can have the following orientations:
Team cohesion
Focus on communication, relationships and synergy within the team. Internalization of the business strategy by the team, and analysis of its capabilities and work methods.
Performance review
Comparative analysis of performance forecasts vs. actual budget.
Leadership development:
leadership principles, analysis of the impact of leadership on teams, review of managers’ alignment to the company’s values.