By | Charlie Fletcher
Remote operations have become a more accessible option for businesses over the last few years. Software platforms to support distant collaboration have become more fit for purpose. Not to mention that during the course of the pandemic, a greater range of employees have developed the necessary skills to be productive team collaborators from home. Fully remote companies stand to benefit from an engaged and skilled global talent pool.
Nevertheless, some in-person contact can occasionally be good for remote workers. Now that there are safety measures in place to navigate the risks of COVID-19 at in-person gatherings, many remote companies are considering corporate retreats. These are excellent opportunities for teams to forge stronger bonds with one another and engage more closely with the company. Doing this well takes some careful planning, though.
We’re going to run down some of the primary planning considerations for your remote company’s corporate retreat.
Choosing a Destination
Your first consideration for your remote company retreat should be focused on the destination. The choices you make here can have logistical implications, cultural impact, and affect how workers engage with your program. You don’t want to pick difficult-to-reach destinations or those in which employees will hate spending time.
Remote employees are often geographically disparate. So, it’s vital that you make it equally easy for each team member to get there and engage meaningfully. For this reason, large cities are usually the most inclusive option for business trips. While cities like Las Vegas and Chicago can be more expensive, they have considerable amenities. The presence of airports, public transportation, and sightseeing opportunities make for accessible retreats.
Nevertheless, it’s still important to bear your goals for the retreat in mind. If you want to take everyone away from the stress and pressure of work, cities don’t always meet the brief. In these instances, cabins in the woods or lodges on nature reserves can be more appropriate. However, part of your planning needs to include making arrangements for distant employees to safely reach the location.
Arranging Activities
A retreat can’t just be a case of picking a venue, gathering everyone there, and improvising your bonding. The process takes a significant investment of time, energy, and capital. You and your employees want and need to get the most out of the experience as possible.
Therefore, it’s important to set your goals for the retreat so you can arrange activities to match. Think about the skills and attributes you can help your workers to develop. Go for a diversity of settings and styles here. Set some activities within the venue you’re staying at. Intersperse these with options in the outdoors or environments where workers can get some exercise and fun. Break up formal discussions with occasional games. Following each session, debrief your team on the value their experiences can provide to their roles within the company.
However, you mustn’t forget to schedule periods of casual relaxation and socialization. You want your workers to create genuine relationships with each other based on an appreciation of their unique personalities. Set breaks between the formalized actions for chatting and chilling out. Make sure there is company-funded time in the evenings for relaxed meals and tourist activities. It may not be directly related to business, but your company still gains value from it.
Setting Standards
One of the reasons people can target remote jobs is the level of freedom, independence, and flexibility they provide. This can certainly provide benefits to your company as a result of greater productivity and profitability — but it can also mean your workers may get rusty with in-person business scenarios.
You don’t need to treat your staff like children. They’re responsible adults who understand what is expected of them as professionals. But it’s helpful for everyone involved to communicate clear standards you want staff to meet during the retreat. This could include setting a business casual dress code that is not formal office wear, but still puts workers in a professional mindset. The definitions of this clothing standard can vary. So be clear that while this is not a formal suit, their comfortable clothing must still give a polished impression.
Your planning here could also extend to discussing expectations for staff behavior. Though the setting may be different, you still need to make it clear that this is a business situation. Communicate to them that there are opportunities for fun, but you expect their actions to be mutually respectful and ethical. They are, after all, representing your company as well as themselves as professionals
Providing Alternatives
While your retreat can be a great opportunity for your company, it may not be a priority for some of your workers. Many professionals choose remote work because they are more introverted in nature or prefer maintaining professional yet distant relationships with colleagues. There can also be accessibility challenges. Some employees with mobility challenges or neurodivergent traits may find attending a retreat an unnecessary burden.
You need to take a more inclusive approach. Express a company preference for in-person engagement, but also offer alternatives. Flexibility, after all, can influence worker retention. This could include offering options to join via video conferencing. You can make activities distantly accessible by providing access to collaborative software like virtual whiteboards.
However, it’s worthwhile being clear in your communications about the benefit of attending retreats in some form. Talk about how workers’ closer bonds can make their collaborations more effective and enjoyable. Make sure you take the time to discuss any concerns employees have and listen to their perspectives. Be solutions-oriented here, rather than making them feel bad for not being able or willing to engage fully with the retreat.
Conclusion
Arranging a retreat for your remote workers can be a great opportunity to help everyone forge strong professional and personal bonds. During your planning process, it’s important to bear in mind the practicality of your location choices. Create a diverse range of activities and provide clarity on the standards your workers should adhere to. Remember, not every remote worker will be able to attend in person, so arranging alternatives is key to inclusivity. With some careful consideration and good communication, you can make your retreat successful for everyone.
