10 Ways to Create the Ultimate Offsite

Offsite meetings can be a great way for large and small companies to take employees out of the office to brainstorm new business ideas, discuss company-wide issues and problems and teach employees new skills. Just make sure you do it right. Here are 10 tips for creating the ultimate offsite.

Look for sites with conference rooms and some leisure amenities such as a golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts and a spa. Don't make the event more than an hour away from the home office, if you intend for employees to go home at the end of the day.

With large offsite meetings, you need to decide whether to make registration organized by alphabetical order or by department. Plan for one registration worker for every 10 employees attending. Make sure employees know where to go using large clear signs from the moment they enter the meeting.

Many locations have event coordinators to help the day of the offsite. A hired event planner can come in to work out logistics in the weeks leading up to the meeting, especially if this is your first offsite.

Don't make the agenda too packed. Participants will become overwhelmed and lose interest. Determine what the purpose of the meeting should be, let everyone know beforehand, and focus on a few related themes during the offsite.

Consider team-building exercises, such as group projects that require some creativity, planning, leadership and trust. It brings employees together and inspires them to work more collaboratively back at the office.

Figure out which meals should be served at the offsite and ask the venue or caterer for a tasting prior to deciding what should be served. Consider a few different entrees that range from traditional chicken and fish to vegetarian options.

Playing a round of golf or a few matches of tennis will allow employees to rejuvenate and bond before heading back into a learning session. Consider kicking off the offsite with a recreational event rather than going right into learning sessions.

The majority of event goers like to hear keynotes from people famous for an accomplishment. But also consider a speaker who is a veteran or researcher in the same industry as your company.

The closing ceremony should be short and sweet, with the head of the company summing-up what was learned and awarding prizes for the team-building exercises.

Ask for feedback from employees on the event. Put some of the ideas discussed at the meeting into play. Pick volunteers before the offsite to write up summaries from meetings and planning sessions.

Read more about team building and offsites in these articles:

• A Summer Fave Gets Saucy and Strategic
• A Swing and a Miss
• Close the Deal, Save the Grizzlies
• Enter the Ultimate Incentives Sweepstakes

By: Tania Anderson Design by: Jennifer Simek