5 ideas for company retreats that make them (even more) special
Are you planning a company retreat?
Then you know how intimidating it can be to determine activities for the team during retreat days. For some, the idea of spending several days with co-workers with a schedule full of forced activities and "cliché" doesn't inspire much motivation. Therefore, when setting the schedule for the company retreat, try to escape the clichés and, above all, respect each person's personal space and interests.
It seems impossible? Here are our activity ideas to organize a peaceful, productive and memorable retreat for all participants.
1. Not all activities have to be mandatory.
You may want to include everyone in each activity as it is more convenient for team building. But let's be realistic: as much as we love our colleagues, spending hours with them over several days can become tiring. So, give your colleagues the freedom to choose which activities interest them the most and which they prefer not to participate in. And remember: choosing to do nothing is also a valid choice! We all need a moment alone to recover energy.
It can also be interesting to organize two activities at the same time so that participants can choose the one that best suits their interests and mood. The ideal is to choose two very different activities such as an active walk through the forest and a quiet workshop at a work table.
2. Sometimes, less is more.
It can be tempting to try doing lots of different activities in hopes of instilling dynamism and enthusiasm in the group. In fact, it is more advantageous to do a well-organized special activity, rather than several programs that end up exhausting participants and detracting from the "star moment" of the day. That way, you can also focus more time and effort on fewer things and make the experience of each activity memorable for everyone.
Don't worry about the moments when there is "nothing" happening. It is at these times that people connect spontaneously and improbable conversations arise that can become very rich for the entire team.
3. Everyone's collaboration is the key.
Participating in the company retreat doesn't just have to happen on the day the retreat starts. Fostering team spirit and relationships between everyone also means that colleagues can get to know each other better on a personal level.
Try researching the team's hobbies and interests and try to incorporate them into the retreat agenda! Maybe you'll discover that Carla do Marketing is a yoga fanatic or that João da Contabilidade spends his free time taking care of the vegetable garden at home. Then you can help them guide a small workshop for the group on what they are passionate about. The team will participate with great enthusiasm and the "teacher" will feel heard.
4. Let’s “mess up” the group
We are well aware that, at first glance, there is no reason for the Finance and Design teams to work together. But bringing together people with different knowledge and experience can result in very valuable innovative solutions for the future of the company. It's also an opportunity to connect people who rarely cross paths during the work week. In the end, communication in the future will be much better between working groups and everyone will come to the conclusion that the mission is the same.
5. Putting creativity to work!
Taking the group on an activity where they can create something new and put their imagination to the test is a great way to bring a good dose of fun to the whole group. In addition, it is an excellent "mind unlocker" for solving work problems creatively and unexpectedly. Try a workshop in the world of arts like a drawing class, an experiment with clay or carving wooden figures to decorate your office!
So now you have some ideas in mind but still don't know where to organize a company retreat?
Cerdeira - Home for Creativity is the ideal place to have a strategic retreat or an important team meeting. Inserted in a valley of Serra da Lousã (Portugal) in the midst of nature and silence, Cerdeira is a traditional schist village completely restored to welcome guests and retreats in a highly inspiring environment. And because this is the home of creativity, we also organize creative teambuilding activities at our School of Arts and Crafts.
Click here to find out about all the services we offer and the current prices.