5 tips to get the most out of your offsites

Picture this: your whole team is at an offsite, gathered together in an inspiring setting, away from the distractions of the daily grind. Every team member feels inspired and ready to participate. The only problem? The week after, nobody remembers what they were doing.

Despite the initial benefits of team building and alignment, it can be disheartening when those positive effects seem to fade away once team members return to their daily operations.  

Remember that team strategy offsite meetings can be quite costly and time-consuming. While these events can promote team building and alignment, the key is to make sure you get the most out of them.

Whether you're organizing a small executive team offsite or a larger gathering, here are five tips to ensure that your next event leaves a lasting impression.

1) Clearly define your objectives—down to the last detail

Planning ahead of the offsite is just as crucial as the actual event itself. Before the event starts, take the time to foster a clear understanding of what you hope to achieve during the event and how you will gauge its success. Your objectives should reflect your team's collective vision and may encompass various aspects such as:

1. Formulating a comprehensive plan that outlines how you will follow through and hold each other accountable to achieve the goals set during the offsite. This step is crucial for translating ideas into action and maintaining momentum after the event.
2. Collaboratively developing clear strategic priorities and establishing measurable outcomes that the entire team fully commits to. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals.
3. Creating a conducive environment for thoughtful discussions aimed at improving team performance. By addressing challenges, identifying areas for growth, and fostering open dialogue, you can enhance teamwork and drive collective success.
4. Including outside-the-box activities (drawing, writing, or even board games) to foster joy and creativity.

When formulating your objectives, it's crucial to reflect on the following questions to ensure their effectiveness:

1. What do you want participants to understand, agree on, rally around, and take action on? Clearly defining the key messages and desired outcomes will provide a focused direction for your offsite and enable participants to align their efforts.
2. How do you want participants to feel after the meeting, and what steps can you take to cultivate those emotions? Emotions play a significant role in driving engagement and motivation. Consider how you can create an environment that evokes enthusiasm, inspiration, and a sense of purpose among participants.

Setting’s tip: Remember that your offsite is a great time to break the norms of your office routine. Do things you usually wouldn’t do to get the creative juices flowing—whether that’s a nice warm-up activity (yoga, anyone?) or a concluding celebratory drink-toast.

2) Curate your offsite invitation list with care

When it comes to inviting participants to your offsite, it's essential to be selective rather than overwhelming the gathering with a huge group. However, that doesn’t mean excluding people for the sake of being selective.  Take a close look at your objectives and ask yourself, "Will a smaller group of key individuals or a larger assembly be more effective in developing our strategy?" While inclusivity is important, a larger group can sometimes hinder productivity during the meeting.

Opting for a smaller guest list fosters more meaningful interactions. Engagement can become challenging when there are too many participants, resulting in discussions that barely scratch the surface. Moreover, having individuals with diverse authority and skill sets at the table increases the likelihood of encountering political dynamics, fear, or personal agendas that can divert the conversation away from achieving your objectives. Remember: your goal is to create an environment that encourages more effective and focused discussions.

Setting’s tip: Break the ice by doing a warm-up activity that introduces all participants in a jovial and welcoming manner. Kicking the whole thing off in this fashion creates a feeling of connection and mutual engagement.

3) Create a detailed agenda

With clear objectives in place and an established attendee list, it's time to craft a comprehensive agenda that ensures a productive offsite. When planning the agenda, aim to allocate a suitable timeframe of 45 minutes to two hours for each topic of discussion.

Striking a balance is key, allowing sufficient time to delve into each topic while avoiding excessive time allocation that may hinder progress. As a general guideline, a full-day offsite usually accommodates the exploration of four to six topics. Ensure that your agenda planning encompasses the following elements:

1. Topics of discussion (e.g., leader vision presentation, retrospectives, goal prioritization, team performance review)
2. Specific objectives for each topic (e.g., understanding leader direction, agreeing on strategy, committing to three strategic goals, identifying areas for improvement)
3. Activity types or delivery modes (e.g., small group working sessions, large group facilitated discussions, brainstorms, presentations, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, games)
4. Time allocation for each topic
5. Preparatory work required before the offsite by the organizer or the team

Setting’s tip: Follow your schedule. Period. There should be no improvised time allotment. 10:00 AM means 10:00 AM. Doing so ensures allows participants to effectively adhere to the overall schedule of the day and also plan for fun activities before and after. It also helps facilitators with planning.

4) Plan logistics, messaging, materials, and templates

As you handle the essential logistics like transportation, food, accommodation, and social events, remember not to let them overshadow the strategic elements of your offsite. Dedicate sufficient pre-event time to attend to the following crucial aspects:

1. Considerate communication: How will you effectively communicate the offsite's objectives and expectations to all participants, both in advance and during the event? How will you skillfully frame the agenda to ensure clarity and engagement? In the case of any pre-work, how will you communicate its purpose and emphasize its importance?
2. Materials: Which presentations or handouts are necessary for the planned sessions? Who should be involved in their creation? What is the timeline for completing these materials before the offsite?
3. Well-designed templates: Which documents should be prepared in advance to accurately capture the work accomplished at the event?
4. Facilitation responsibilities: Who will be responsible for facilitating the workshop? Will there be one designated facilitator or multiple individuals sharing the responsibility?

Setting's Tip: Think really specifically about what you'll need at the workshop, down to the last post-it. If you're planning to engage in creative tasks such as drawing, consider what materials will enhance your experience, such as different types of markers, pencils, or brushes. There’s nothing worse than blocking your team’s creativity simply because you don’t have the right materials.

5) Choose the right location

The choice of location can greatly impact the success of your offsite. Instead of settling for a generic venue, why not select a location that aligns perfectly with your objectives and enhances the overall experience?  Look for venues that offer inspiring surroundings, whether it's a scenic retreat nestled in nature in Italy or a vibrant urban space in Berlin that sparks creativity.

Lastly, pay attention to practical considerations as well. Ensure that the meeting spaces are comfortable and conducive to focused work, with ample seating and suitable equipment—such as venues that offer dedicated breakout areas, allowing participants to engage in smaller group discussions or brainstorming sessions. Don't forget to consider convenient amenities, such as Wi-Fi access, refreshments, and other facilities that contribute to the overall enjoyment and smooth running of the event!

Setting’s tip: our meeting rooms and event spaces are fully equipped with everything you need to do the best work possible on your offsite.

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