In the world of remote work, getting together as a company may seem like a luxury, but it’s essential for a team’s success. When the pandemic hit, most companies were forced to adopt remote working, and it’s been a challenging time for everyone. In-person connections have been replaced with virtual meetings, and team members are isolated from each other.
However, as I recently experienced, getting together as a company is incredibly valuable. I went on a company retreat, and it was the first time we were all together in person since the start of the pandemic. It was a great experience, and I came back with three main takeaways.
Firstly, it’s an opportunity to get aligned and share your plans with the entire company. When working remotely, it can be hard to ensure everyone is on the same page. But during a company retreat, everyone is in one place, and you can share your vision and goals for the year ahead. This alignment is essential for success and ensures that everyone is working towards the same objectives.
Secondly, you get to meet people that you don’t typically interact with. In a remote working environment, you might only interact with your immediate team. However, during a company retreat, you get to meet colleagues from different departments or even different countries. It’s an opportunity to expand your network and build relationships with people you may not have met before.
Finally, you get to build a connection with your team-mates. Remote working can be lonely and isolating, and it’s challenging to build a connection with colleagues. But when you spend time with your team in person, you get to know them on a deeper level. You can share stories, jokes and experiences that you wouldn’t typically do over a Zoom call.
After a retreat like this, I felt more connected with my team-mates than ever before. We had shared experiences that brought us closer together, and we were able to tackle the year with a renewed sense of connection. It’s easy to forget the importance of in-person connections when we’re used to remote working, but this experience reminded me of how essential it is for a team’s success.
In conclusion, getting together as a company is essential, even if it seems like a luxury. It’s an opportunity to align your goals, expand your network, and build deeper connections with your colleagues. These benefits are essential for success in a remote working environment, and I would encourage all companies to invest in company retreats, especially after the challenging year we’ve all had.
