There are so many important (even pressing) decisions for a business owner or manager to consider in order to build their business, accomplish their goals, and manage their growth responsibly. One of the most important considerations is the state of their team.
Is the team aligned with what we’re building? Are they clear on their priorities? Are they as skilled as they need to be to impress callers, maximize opportunities, present compelling solutions and convert financial discussions with clients? Do we have the appropriate accountability measures and training mechanisms to support them? What are they working on to increase their results? Are they feeling increasingly loyal, positive, and happy to work here?
If you struggle to answer any of these questions, a team retreat could be your answer.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking… Oh please, not that soft, “woo woo” teambuilding thing that is essentially a grown-up play day for employees. No thanks! I’m not interested in getting my people pumped up for a minute, spending a boatload of money, and then watching as the buzz fades away as quickly as it came.
Me neither. That is definitely NOT what I’m recommending. In my opinion, after decades of facilitating team events, the idea of teambuilding gets a bad rap because they’ve often been poorly constructed and ineffectively executed, but team events that are well constructed, thoughtfully curated, and expertly facilitated is a proven strategy that can align teams with the business vision and strategic plan; gain employee buy-in to the mission, goals, and growth strategies; firmly establish cultural standards and accountability measures while at the same time building stronger bonds, improving collaboration, and boosting overall attitudes and productivity.
Here are four specific reasons why designing and delivering a focused team retreat can have a positive impact on your business’s bottom line, team culture, and your overall daily experience of work.
- Alignment. At LionSpeak, facilitating a team retreat that truly delivers the goods starts long before we actually deliver it. We spend time with the business owners on the creation of the “Company Charter” as well as the presentation skills to deliver it to their team in a compelling, clear, and inspiring way. Simultaneously, we survey the team on their current experience of leadership, teamwork, and employee growth as well as client/patient experience, if appropriate. This allows us to present a “state of the union” followed by a fresh look at the future the company wishes to build in terms of profitability, productivity, skills growth, team culture, and employee experience. Our ultimate goal is to create an experience where every employee leaves the retreat clear about the “invitation” to join the efforts to build this company in a very particular way and align with the values and standards as well as the accountability measures they will help to establish.
- Improved Communication. A team who cannot communicate in a mature, effective way is always at a disadvantage. A team retreat can provide a relaxed setting to break down communication barriers and rebuild trust, openness, and renewed commitments to more mature and effective communication strategies.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. I spend a lot of time coaching leadership and management teams, and the one thing they always want more of are team members who can critically think through problems and collaborate with others to find solutions. A team retreat can help to not only build these skills but also, more importantly, help team members understand how important it is for them to think and act in ways that spot and solve challenges in order to reach the goals.
- Positive Attitudes and Optimism. There is nothing an aligned, positive, and optimistic team cannot achieve, and a team retreat can remind the team that they are the creators of their own experience every day and that they have the power to create any change or result they desire. If you want a team who can weather whatever storms are on the horizon for your business and have a relentless drive for productivity, then an inspiring team retreat may be the answer.
Now, will you and your team have fun at this event? Absolutely! Will there be some rah rah, woo woo shenanigans to get everyone fired up and energized? For sure. But these are merely tools to attain the more profound goal of team alignment and dedication to achieving your business goals as well as a by-product of doing so at your retreat.
If you’re ready to accelerate your team’s focus on what really matters, increase your team’s level of engagement with solving challenges and achieving more, and kick your team spirit into high gear, consider a well-organized and expertly facilitated team retreat. Better yet, plan to do it at least once a year. Your team, your business, and ultimately those you serve will thank you for it.
“Don’t take your culture for granted. There needs to be a constant renewal of values that lead to camaraderie.”
~ Mike Krzyzewski
