Creating a Culture of Connection: How Off-Site Events Drive Employee Well-being and Performance
Employees are increasingly anxious, grappling with concerns about budget cuts, potential layoffs, and rapid shifts in the age of artificial intelligence. While it's tempting for businesses to deprioritize the employee experience when faced with these challenges, this period presents a crucial opportunity for organizations to focus on nurturing and retaining talent. Prioritizing employee engagement and well-being can be a defining factor in maintaining a resilient and motivated workforce, which is essential for fostering long-term success.
When individuals have the opportunity to interact outside of their usual work roles, they gain a deeper understanding of each other's strengths, weaknesses, and communication styles. This newfound understanding translates into more effective teamwork and collaboration in the office, leading to better problem-solving, increased innovation, and higher overall productivity.
I sat down with our Executive Coaches, Kully Jaswal and John McLean, to learn more about the importance and impact of employee engagement events on teams and organizations. Here is what they shared.
Breaking Down Hierarchical Barriers and Fostering Creativity and Collaboration.
Imagine a bustling office of a global company where the usual hierarchy is momentarily set aside. Today, entire teams, managers, and C-suite leaders have cleared their schedules to come together to do things differently.
A front-line employee Alex, and her boss, Jordan, step out of their regular roles to engage in an activity called the "Chocolate Apprentice." It’s an off-site event designed to encourage teamwork and creativity. Their manager and direct-report dynamic shifts—for today, they're equal collaborators, lost in the art of chocolate making.
Participants are given a low-stakes opportunity to practice wide-ranging skill sets from starting a business, marketing, product design, creation, innovation, selling, and pitching.
The usual formalities melt away as they experiment with flavors and designs and dream up bombastic promotional strategies for their hypothetical brand. The room filled with their colleagues buzzes with laughter and chatter, a stark contrast to the typical office environment. Everyone knows this is a space of play and experimentation.
Fun, it turns out, is a powerful tool for connection, breaks down barriers, and fosters creativity. But more than that, the event also offers critical co-mentoring opportunities, where different generations within the workforce can learn from each other.
“We saw that mentoring was going on throughout the event,” said Jaswal. The young digital marketing graduates were able to teach senior colleagues innovative techniques for making promotional videos, which veteran employees had little experience in. “And that was just within a 2-hour timeframe,” added Jaswal.
This reciprocal learning fosters an inclusive culture where knowledge and skills are shared across hierarchical boundaries. When employees have a chance to connect on a personal level, it also humanizes the work environment, leading to a more positive and supportive workplace culture.
Direct reports see their leaders not just as superiors, but as fellow creators, someone with whom they can share ideas freely. Similarly, leaders discover a new side of their employees, one that's innovative and full of surprising insights. Most importantly, they make the time to share more deeply about themselves: their hobbies, families, and life stories.
This transformative experience is a microcosm of what off-site events can achieve: breaking down hierarchical barriers, fostering genuine connections, and creating an atmosphere where creativity and motivation thrive. In this chocolate-making adventure, they're not just crafting confections; they're building a more connected and motivated team and laying the foundation for long-term success.
What is an Employee Engagement Event and Why Invest in Them?
Employee-focused events, such as team-building retreats, off-sites, company picnics, or social outings, provide an ideal environment for employees to build strong connections with one another. These events often involve creative team-building activities, group exercises, and socializing, all promoting communication, trust, and motivation, leading to better performance overall.
In a post-pandemic world where the hybrid work environment has blurred the hours between work and personal time, these in-person off-sites create a bubble around your team to focus and connect in ways that just aren’t possible at a distance. But with busy schedules, aggressive growth goals, and the bottom line to consider, why should organizational leaders shift employee focus in favor of employee engagement events?
It’s simple: employee-centered events directly impact employee performance and organizational results.
Rather than work harder for longer hours, our expert team of coaches recommends that organizational leaders clear the way for intentional, dedicated employee engagement activities.
While some leaders may question the ROI of such initiatives, McLean and Jaswal argue that the benefits, though intangible at times, are unmistakable. This time builds relationships and helps employees gain insights that enable successful and cohesive partnerships, teams, functions, departments, and enterprises.
Let's explore some of the significant benefits these events offer.
1. Connection and Collaboration:
Off-site events enable employees to connect and collaborate with their peers in a more relaxed and informal setting. Breaking away from the everyday work routine allows individuals to engage in meaningful conversations, exchange insights and ideas, and build solid professional relationships. These connections often lead to enhanced teamwork, increased productivity, and a positive work culture.
“I believe businesses are only successful through their people,” says McLean. He continues, “show me a business that is successful any other way. I don't know of any.”
In fact, according to poll data gathered by Gallup, “companies with a highly engaged workforce have 21% higher profitability and 17% higher productivity than companies with a disengaged workforce.”
When employees feel connected, supported, and valued, they are likelier to go above and beyond in their roles. The relationships formed during off-site events create a sense of loyalty and dedication among employees, resulting in increased effort, decreased turnover, and improved business outcomes. Additionally, the positive experiences and memories from these events serve as a motivational force, driving employees to strive for excellence and achieve their goals.
Jaswal shares that monumental shifts occur following the facilitation of mindfulness and emotional intelligence training because they alter mindsets for the better. Clients often share that the tools and practices stick with participants long after the workshops are over.
“It's not just taking people away and having fun for four days,” says Jaswal. “Clients have come to me afterward to share that they're integrating these tools and practices straight into their day-to-day work, and it becomes a norm leading to deeper conversations and connections.”
2. Personal and Professional Growth:
By participating in off-site events, employees are given the platform to step out of their comfort zones and explore new experiences. Whether it's team-building activities, workshops, or interactive sessions, these events provide opportunities for personal growth and development. Employees gain valuable skills, such as better communication, problem-solving, and leadership, which can be applied to their roles within the organization.
Our Executive Coaches have seen this first-hand when facilitating relationship intelligence workshops based on the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI), which provides insights into employee motivation and conflict management across teams.
The results are powerful and have tangible effects on how teammates work with one another. “I’ve seen Senior Leaders gain these SDI insights and awareness, take them back into the work environment where the work experience is totally different,” says McLean. That impact, he says, “then cascades down through their teams.”
When applying this tool with a department of 75 employees working in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment, coaches were able to shift the culture from anxiety-ridden and in conflict to high performance. Those who once believed they didn’t get along came to realize that it’s simply that their motivations and perspectives are different. Their insights enabled them to step out of conflict and into problem-solving mode for the bigger objective.
Jaswal adds that a series of quarterly off-sites focused on emotional well-being and connection with the same team led to one of the highest employee engagement scores across the organization. The events fostered higher performance, morale, and employee retention. The outcome had such a significant impact that people from within the organization were clamoring to work with this team.
3. Wellness and Work-Life Balance:
Off-site events also play a significant role in driving employee well-being, a crucial aspect of organizational success.
These events provide a break from the daily work routine, allowing employees to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate. Employees can reduce stress, increase job satisfaction, and improve their mental and emotional well-being by stepping away from their desks and engaging in enjoyable activities. This, in turn, leads to higher levels of engagement, motivation, and overall job performance.
Although it may surprise you to hear from a veteran, McLean says, “I've always believed that unless people feel loved and cared for by an organization, then you'll never get the best from them.” When employees feel connected, supported, and valued, they are likelier to go above and beyond.
Our team uses our WAVE framework, which has helped our clients understand what it takes to connect well-being personally and professionally. This framework focuses on the following:
Wisdom - understanding how our inner thoughts and emotions impact the way we show up.
Alignment - leveraging our strengths, skills, and values to do more of what we enjoy.
Vitality - taking care of our physical, mental, and emotional energy through sleep, exercise, and nutrition.
Empathy - how we connect with others to develop meaningful relationships to build trust and greater collaboration.
Engaged and healthy employees show their commitment not just through metrics but also through their enthusiasm and effort. Investing in off-sites is investing in the human element of business, which is crucial for long-term success.
What Makes a Successful Off-Site Event?
There is more to it than simply taking time off with your team. These events take intention and care with support from key organizational leaders.
Planning and executing a successful off-site event requires several key elements that your team should consider:
Assess the needs of your employees on a regular basis.
Step out of the routine by carving out protected time and space.
Make a plan that leverages fun, connection, and learning.
Pay particular attention to logistics for a seamless experience.
Gather feedback from participants for future events.
Start by clearly defining the purpose and objectives of the off-site event. Is it aimed at team-building, strategy alignment, or fostering innovation? Having clear focus allows organizers to tailor the event activities accordingly and maximize their impact.
“Rather than simply going in and creating an event and expecting everyone to show up,” says Jaswal, “it's important to really understand what people are needing and wanting and determine how we address that need”. She recommends that those needs be assessed regularly as they are likely to change as often as every quarter.
In some cases, managers and senior leaders may be too embedded in the day-to-day activities to zoom out and determine what the organization or team truly needs. This is when sourcing a partner such as our team of coaches can be helpful.
Additionally, off-site events should offer a variety of activities that engage participants and encourage interaction. From ice-breaker games to group discussions and problem-solving challenges, the activities should be designed to foster communication, collaboration, and team spirit.
“If you can create those conditions where people feel like they can really show up, have fun, and connect, employees are more likely to share more openly and have the difficult conversations,” says Jaswal. That opens the opportunity for senior leaders to listen deeply and understand what's really going on across all levels within the organization, leading to more strategic business decisions.
Moreover, a successful off-site event requires meticulous planning and organization. Consider location, transportation, accommodation, meals, and schedule. Ensure all logistics are well-managed to create a seamless experience for the attendees.
Lastly, after the event, we suggest that you invest in gathering feedback from participants to understand what worked well and areas for improvement. Use this feedback to refine future off-site events and continually enhance their effectiveness.
Conclusion
In a business landscape marked by rapid changes and challenges, investing in off-site events that foster connection, well-being, and emotional intelligence is more than a luxury; it's a strategic necessity. These events offer a space for employees to connect, share, and grow, ultimately leading to a more engaged, productive, and resilient workforce.
As organizations prioritize employee engagement and productivity, incorporating off-site events into their strategies is a smart and effective approach. This not only creates a more positive and inclusive work environment but also sets the stage for long-term success.
Creating a culture of connection through thoughtful off-site events might just be the key to unlocking your team's full potential.
Need help planning your team’s next off-site?
Get in touch. We can help!
