How to Host The Best Virtual Retreat
Businesses are now realizing how important it is to have a cohesive culture & sense of identity as a team. This is no easy task when your team has never been together in the same room. If an in-person retreat is not an option for your business quite yet, you can still overcome this challenge by regularly hosting virtual retreats.
So, what are virtual retreats, exactly, and how would you go about planning one? What makes a virtual retreat fun or memorable? Let’s walk through these questions and more so that you can ensure your teams success with a virtual retreat, or maybe even TWO.
So, What are Virtual Retreats?
A virtual retreat is an opportunity for leaders of the business along with team members to spend quality time outside of the normal day to day of the business aligning on goals, visions, etc. Yes, this can all happen virtually and have the same affect as a in-person off site.
You can now use a plethora of online platforms to make a virtual retreat happen, including Slack, Zoom, Webex, GoogleMeets and more.
There are different activities that you can plan for a virtual retreat, these are some examples:
Workshop/training sessions
Team health checks
Feedback and open discussion
Team building activities
Goal setting
You can have the perfect combination of culture, mission and goal oriented activities during this retreat while keeping it engaging fun and interactive.
So, What Makes A Great Virtual Retreat?
1) Plan Ahead
What do you as a leader want to accomplish during the retreat and what do you want your teams to accomplish? Every retreat does not have to have the same goal, that’s the beauty of it.
It’s possible that some virtual retreats might be more focused on goal setting or strategy, while others might have a central goal of giving your team the opportunity to recharge and take a break. It’s important that before you start planning out your itinerary for the retreat, you take the time to think about the mission of the retreat, whether it's to boost morale, improve team cooperation, build new skills, or something else entirely.
TIP: Ask your team for ideas or topics they would like to discuss for your retreat so they feel involved in the planning process.
2) Create an Agenda
A clear and engaging agenda that includes interactive activities and discussions. Make sure to establish a timeline for each activity and how long they will last. Include adequate breaks and downtime.
3) Set Expectations For The Retreat
Camera’s on, backgrounds off, mic’s on. Make sure your employees know what is expected of them ahead of time. This will help make sure everyone is on the same page about the retreat ahead of time. Encourage team members to ask questions, share ideas, and talk openly about their experiences.
TIP: Review the expectations at the start of the retreat.
4) Hire a Facilitator
A facilitator helps to keep your virtual retreat focused on the goals you and your team set out to achieve. They will also ensure that everyone is engaged and participating in the activities.
5) No Matter What, Incorporate Team Building and Cultivate Connections
Encourage meaningful conversations and create space for your employees to get to know each other. Make sure to provide a safe and comfortable space for these conversations.
TIP: Include breakout rooms to help the team see different points of view for each team member.
Work Well Wherever works with you to design a retreat approach, facilitate the session(s), and coach for sustainability. Company retreat facilitation is for small businesses and start-ups and can be in-person, hybrid, or virtual— half-day, full-day, and multi-day sessions, depending on your needs.
A sample of facilitation topics and exercises Maryellen can lead:
Mission, vision, and values alignment
Culture alignment
Role clarity
Strategic planning
