The ideal length of the retreat
If your team is distributed all over the world, you need a longer retreat, as a day or two won’t cut it. We’ve seen larger teams organize offsites that are 3-5 days long, which is the ideal length if you want a good mix of work and rest.
Monday: Arrival and start of the retreat
Most retreats start on a Monday, which means that everyone should arrive and settle in their accommodation by then. For people that have to travel long distances, make sure to buy the tickets for Sunday, so they’re fresh and rested on Monday morning. For those with shorter travel times, Monday flights are fine.
On that note, don’t really count on doing anything productive on Monday. People arrive at different times, they are tired and excited to meet each other, so you really should have Monday as the day to settle in.
They can use this day to explore the city, work from the hotel, play ice-breaker games to know new colleagues, set up smaller meetings or whatever they please. Just make sure that no work is mandatory on Monday. Also, don’t go to the other extreme and throw a party on the day everyone arrives. After all, you want everyone to be fresh for the big meeting the following day.
Tuesday: The official start
With a large group on a retreat, it’s usually the practice for the CEO of the company to open up the retreat with a speech on the second day of the arrival.
When EVBox went on their 200-person retreat in Madrid late last year, they officially kicked it off on the second day with a presentation about the company’s vision for 2019.
You can also extend the speech into a longer presentation on how the company is doing. Maybe throw in some numbers and stats, to keep everyone in the company up to date.
You may think it’s too much, but for someone flying in from the other end of the world, they will appreciate being informed about the company progress.
Then end the day with a company-wine dinner event somewhere nice.
Wednesday & Thursday: Work, play, repeat
On Wednesday, you should dedicate the day for productive work. Consider organizing a hackathon or innovation day to brainstorm new product ideas or to work on solutions together. (Keep scrolling to read our tips on hackathons!)
On Thursday morning, split up into smaller teams and have them work on their pre-determined projects. Then use the afternoon for a team bonding activity. Don’t underestimate the power of team bonding! By allowing some time for bonding between teammates, you give them the opportunity to let their guards down and truly connect with each other, which is a sure way to increase employee happiness and consequently, employee retention.
Some of our clients’ favorite activities are sailing on the river in Lisbon, treasure hunting in Barcelona, or learning to surf in the small village of Ericeira.
Before setting off for team activities, though, it’s a good idea to have another speech or an announcement to let everyone know about what was accomplished during the retreat.
Thursday is also a great day for an evening party if you’re leaving on Friday.
Friday: Hasta luego!
On Friday, give your team the choice to either work on loose ends or time off from work and other activities as this is the departure day. They will appreciate it, especially those who have a long flight ahead of them. After all, you want your team rested, energized and inspired once they get back to their homes.