Corporate retreats, in the minds of some, are simply “days away from the office.” Yes, retreats take employees away from the office, but they also do so much more. In fact, many studies tell us that business benefits dramatically from those “days away from the office.” Of course, what happens during those days makes a difference, and that is often left up to the planners. It could be a sales launch, an annual recap/update, a training program, or, like programs offered at Jameson Camp, leadership and teamwork sessions.
Whatever the content for the day, the benefits go far beyond just the information you present. The benefits affect those things that are a bit harder to quantify and measure. Let’s take a look at the top 5 benefits first.
Benefits to Corporate Retreats
1. Stimulate and Encourage Unified Teams
Face it, every team has blips and periods of malfunction. When that happens, astute managers act. One of the most effective solutions is a corporate retreat. Corporate retreats allow each person to feel important, both as an individual and as a member of the group.
Without the pressures of the work environment, people relax and feel they can take the time to get to know their peers in new ways. They open up and interact on a different level. A new persona emerges, revealing unique personalities. They form deeper connections.
2. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses
In most cases, people come in a package of strengths and weaknesses, or challenges.
Not every person can identify their own strengths, or, on the other hand, their weaknesses. Even when they can, some people are dismissive of their strengths and possibly hid the skills that challenge them.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “play to your strengths.” In a dynamic group situation, a strong team is built of people playing to their strengths and supporting each other in that endeavor. The strengths of some members bolster the weaknesses in other members.
Finding the best combination of people to work together to achieve goals is not magic. However, it does take observation and an astute understanding of employees. Corporate retreats offer a perfect opportunity for managers to step back and really observe the innate strengths of their team. It is possible to see doublings and gaps. Subsequently to taking that knowledge back to the workplace, a manager acts to improve the make-up of a team for optimum performance and the success of its members.
3. Reduce Stress
Stress is present in every work environment. It could the presence of a negative influence or situation, or it could be the result of a heavy workload. Even if every employee loves their work and their co-workers, there is pressure to getting everything done accurately and on a timely basis.
Corporate retreats provide time to step away from the pressures of the workplace and bring everyone’s spirits up. A change of pace and break from computers, phones, and deadlines is a breath of fresh air that rejuvenates and invigorates motivation and performance. It’s a time to take a breath to recoup before getting back to the task at hand.
4. Encourage Professional Development
Employees are an investment. An investment that deserves to be nurtured and allowed to grow. Scheduling a corporate retreat for professional development shows that employees are valued and considered contributors to the success of a business. They see that professional development is a crucial element in the success of the company.
When employees feel they help build success, instead of being the backs on which success is built, they feel invested in the business just like employers invest in them. For this reason, there is a good chance that turnover decreases.
Likewise, retreats are useful in the hiring and recruitment of new employees. In a retreat setting, managers learn more about the candidates so they can better assess if the fit is good for everyone.
5. Appreciation
Last, but certainly not least, using corporate retreats as a means to show employees their efforts and work performance are appreciated sends a strong message. In generals good employees know such an event takes time and effort to plan and organize, not to mention the cost.
Gratitude can be shown in a variety of ways at a retreat. It’s important to realize fun is games as well as improving one’s skills. A retreat can include recreational activities, a fun teambuilding program held in the woods, or an elegant dinner.
In the end, a corporate retreat should be a chance for everyone to talk, laugh, and get to know each other on a more personal level without any hidden agenda. To put it differently, it is a chance to build camaraderie and identify shared goals and how to achieve them.
Jameson Camp is an premier facility in Indianapolis that offers employers the opportunity to create the retreat that is perfect for them, their employees, and their business. Overnight facilities are available as well as options for a day outing. Programs with Camp staff are available, or company personnel can organize and provide the content and structure of the day.
Give your employees a welcome change or establish an annual event. Contact us at 317-241-2661. We look forward to telling you more about Jameson Retreats and scheduling your next corporate retreat with us.
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