Company Retreats for Small Business

In the small business section on TheStreet.com, I saw this article on planning your next company retreat. The author discouraged in-office ‘retreats’ and encouraged “fun first and work second.” I have always been a proponent of team-building and improving employee moral. I think this is a clear, distinct advantage that small businesses have over the big guys.

When a large company has a retreat, many of the employees don’t even want to go. The activities end up being cheesy, and everyone is playing the same political games they play in the office. Conversely, a small company can enjoy having fun together blowing off steam from a stressful period while strengthening the team and building moral.

In a recession or any other time when money is tight within your company, it is especially important to make this investment in your employees. Though the term “mental recession” may be over used, the mental state of your employees can and will be the direction your company is headed. Having a fun retreat will help your employees to feel like the company is doing well, and they will have the mental fortitude to weather the tough times.

Benefits of Having a Company Retreat:

• Employee moral gets a boost
• You will get to know employees in a different way
• The entire team is strengthened

Playing first, like the author says, is vital to the success of the retreat. Work, if done at all, must be secondary, or everyone will feel gypped and the entire retreat will be a failure. Make sure any team building activities will be fun for the participants. Finally, if you want to use the retreat for a specific project, make sure everyone knows the schedule ahead of time so they can mentally prepare.

What To Do
The article gives some suggestions on what to do. Let’s not forget the fact that we are Mainers! One thing we should get right is a retreat. We have the most beautiful resorts, mountains, lakes, and beaches in the country. No matter what your budget, there is a way to get your employees out of the office for a day of fun.

Point Sebago offers company retreat packages that, to me, seem very reasonable. Prices for Day Meetings start at $26/person, and include food. On their website, they have more information on various day and overnight retreat packages.

Too Small
Some businesses are just 2-4 people, making a ‘retreat’ sound a bit overstated. Just because you have a super small company, though, doesn’t mean your team couldn’t use a retreat. Consider some options that work for the tiniest companies.

• Invite the families of employees
• Invite some of your best clients
• Do something that makes sense for a small group, like boating or hiking

Whatever you choose to do, have fun! Investing in your team will never be a mistake.

Mike Freeman
I love retreats.

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