There will always be a place for the corporate retreat, or whatever name companies put to these, as they enable focused planning time in an inspiring environment.
There are minimal distractions, there is a structured agenda and getting away from the workplace can harness creativity and positivity.
They are useful in fostering a positive team culture and empowering senior executives to lead from the front in instilling a successful culture throughout the organisation.
That is why we are finding that most corporate retreats include fun team building activities.
Almost two years ago, I wrote a blog on how team building was back in vogue for senior executives, and that focus has well and truly continued since then.
A part of that ‘vogue’ or ‘trend’ is that corporate retreats are no longer perceived as a lavish getaway, they are integral staff events that will produce a greater return than investment.
Why is this?
Because corporate culture and effective teams are recognised as key factors for a successful business or organisation. And that starts with leadership!
Having a united leadership group will have a ripple effect down through the organisation.
That is some context behind the importance of executive retreats and why team building is so popular as part of them.
Call them team building workshops, team bonding activities or some other creative name, whatever you call them, they are all about producing unity, positivity, teamwork and rejuvenation.
They also inject a lot of fun into the retreat. But it’s important to combine fun with the more serious side of the retreat.
Here are some thoughts on how to bring fun into serious planning with your team at events like corporate retreats.
If you are tasked with organising your next company retreat, here are five team building programmes to consider including …
1. Art In A Day
This an effective team building workshop held over 2-3 hours which applies creativity, time management, strategy and negotiation with a new fun experience. It is a valuable exercise to develop creative concepts or culture artwork for the workplace.
2. Company Creativity
Another great group activity that requires creativity and teamwork with the end result being a promotional campaign, product launch or corporate video. It’s perfect as a 3-hour programme utilising both indoor and outdoor environments.
3. Karts for Hearts
Staff team building activities do not come any more enjoyable than Karts for Hearts. Teams have to build their own billy kart, then decorate it, then present it in a sales pitch, then race it (optional) and then ultimately donate it to a children’s charity.
4. Safe Crack
For group team building over a shorter period of 1-3 hours, Safe Crack is ideal for corporate retreats requiring skills in problem solving, information interpretation and lateral thinking. It can be integrated over lunch or dinner as a fun engaging test of criminal investigation, fictional of course.
5. The Pitch
This team exercise will harness the creative flair and business acumen of all participants as they work in teams to create and pitch a fundraising event for charity. It’s great for concept development and working on influential sales presentations.
So, they are five different options to include team building challenges or team bonding activities into your next corporate retreat.
If you wanted to integrate some leadership training on team culture and effective teams, I would highly recommend FISH! training workshops for culture and training with Belbin profiles for effective teams.
Dwain Richardson, Managing Director, Corporate Challenge Events
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