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By: Catherine Dixon-Kheir, Creative Learning Practitioner & Organizational Development Specialist
When is the last time you brought your team together in a place outside of their normal work environment for a day or two of planning, problem solving, creative thinking, and teambuilding? Chances are, it was before the onset of the COVID pandemic. And chances are, the perfect time to reconvene and get a teambuilding retreat scheduled and planned, is NOW.
“Every company leader has a different purpose and goal in mind when they decide to plan a retreat, but the common thread is connection,” said Catherine Dixon-Kheir, creative learning practitioner and organizational development specialist with Training & Development Solutions at Howard Community College. “It’s about giving people some time to shift focus, build meaningful bonds with those they work with day-in and day-out, re-energize, and have a bit of fun.”
Catherine has designed and facilitated retreats for Training & Development Solutions clients over the past five years. After experiencing a lengthy pause with in-person meetings during the pandemic, she and her team are now seeing an uptick in calls from organizational leaders and managers who want to get team retreats back on the books. The first step in the process is to plan an event in alignment with leadership goals.
“Is the purpose of the retreat to concentrate on organizational goals, strategies, and long-term vision? Is it to recognize and thank people for their commitment to their work and the mission? Or is it simply to engage people in teambuilding and bonding exercises, in ways that allow them to get to know each other at a deeper level?” explained Catherine. “The discussion and activities that will take place at a retreat depend heavily on what the organization wants to see in terms of outcomes.”
Although no two teambuilding retreats Catherine facilitates are the same, she says a common theme for events taking place now is “working together for the future.” All businesses and government agencies are recovering and continuously adjusting from COVID impact and changes. Bringing employees together and engaging them, both professionally and personally, can go a long way in building a hybrid workplace culture.
“I hear people sharing stories of virtual work accomplishments at retreats, and the responses from their co-workers is ‘I had no idea you were going through that’ or in some cases ‘I can totally relate; me too,’” said Catherine. “Retreats open a door for people who work together to understand and appreciate each other in new ways. And in many cases, those personal connections can really change the way a team works together from an efficiency and productivity standpoint once they return to their everyday workspaces.”
Catherine stresses that the most effective teambuilding retreats are those that happen outside of the normal workplace. You don’t want people to feel like they are coming to ‘just another meeting’ so picking a spot that is ‘away’ is crucial. In Catherine’s experience, some leaders have opted to schedule their retreats at nice restaurants. Those with more conservative budgets have chosen to meet at a someone’s home, a local library, a park, or a conference room that is on-site yet away from the typical work area. The key is to choose a spot that is different, allowing for a change of scenery and a true step away from the everyday work environment.
“I have seen that spending a few hours in a spot that is out of the norm can do wonders when it comes to connection and creativity,” said Catherine.
Another thing leaders must bear in mind when planning retreats is that opinions amongst people vary greatly when it comes to COVID safety these days. Some individuals are still not entirely comfortable with the idea of in-person meetings. They may choose to wear a mask, request seating at least six feet away from others, or opt to join in on the conversation, virtually.
“Leaders who plan with an open mind and flexibility can create a safe event with maximum inclusion of all team members,” said Catherine. “They end up with employees who feel appreciated, teams that want to be engaged, and outcomes that can be sustainable and have positive, long-term gains for their organizations.”
Interested in holding a retreat for your team, department, or organization in the coming months? Training & Development Solutions can guide you and support you every step of the way. Give us a call at 443-518-4459 to begin the conversation.