At Great Place To Work, we believe that celebrating success and fostering collaboration are vital to creating a thriving workplace culture. That's why we embarked on an exciting team trip to Arona, Italy, with the purpose of celebrating our achievements in the past business year and strengthening our bonds as a team. In this article, we will share our experience and provide insights into the program that made our trip more than just a traditional retreat.
Why we made our way to Arona
We constantly reflect on our own workplace culture and want to be a role model when it comes to fostering collaboration, showing appreciation, and celebrating success. Our whole team goes the extra, extra mile daily to provide the best possible experience for our clients, getting on top of internal projects and significantly contributing to the success of Great Place To Work.
Rather than traditional means of recognition (i.e. extra bonus, simple thank you e-mail from the CEO, etc.) we wanted to create an experience that would truly celebrate our collective success. A team trip was our way to show genuine appreciation and express our gratitude for all the hard work and dedication each and every team member has poured into their role(s).
The goal was to create an atmosphere of togetherness and camaraderie, where each person felt valued not only for their professional contributions but also as unique individuals. We combined this with our ambition to drive our business forward and learn from one another and came up with a program that combined all these aspects.
Day 1
Our journey began on Thursday morning when we boarded the train at Zurich HB. The train became a hub of activity, with quick exchanges about work, impromptu group meetings, and lively discussions about the trip’s expectations. Some team members took some time to work on their tasks during the journey, others simply enjoyed the nice view from the train window.
Upon our arrival in Arona around 1:30 pm, we joined our colleagues from Great Place To Work Italy for lunch. In the afternoon, our team engaged in a workshop with the Italian team, where we started by understanding each other’s business, goals and challenges. With a fun trivia game we tested our knowledge about the respective countries in teams and had the opportunity to connect. In breakout groups with people with similar roles, we delved into current topics and tried to find solutions to shared problems.
In the evening, we gathered together for a fun Apérocena, further strengthening our connections and building camaraderie across borders.
Day 2
The next day, the Swiss team started the morning by discussing what the world will look like in 2030, with the focus on AI most likely being part of everyday life, and what this means for workplace culture, our clients and for us. We then had a shortened version of Atlassian’s “ShipIt”, where we used the rest of the morning to work on whatever we wanted, trying to generate creative ideas for business development.
In the afternoon, we engaged in a city exploration game, a team-building activity that required collaboration and problem-solving as the Italian and Swiss colleagues worked together towards a common goal. The evening program was dedicated to fostering team spirit within the Swiss team, allowing us to have fun and spend some time together.
5 tips for your next offsite
A company retreat is often seen as a chance to enjoy good food and unwind from daily work routines. However, we believe that company retreats hold far greater value. By combining elements of business development workshops, team-building activities, and cultural exploration, we created a program that maximized our time and allowed us to make the most of our trip.
For us, our team trip to Arona, Italy, was an immersive experience that brought us closer together, nurturing a positive workplace culture, celebrating achievements, and fostering collaboration across borders. We returned with a renewed sense of purpose, innovative ideas, and stronger connections that will continue to drive our organization forward.
But what is it that made our trip so special?
Her are five tips to go beyond the traditional notion of simply enjoying good food and relaxation and make your next offsite a success.
-
Celebrating Success and Appreciation:
Recognizing and valuing each team member’s contribution enhances morale, motivation, and a sense of accomplishment. You could for example propose a toast, stating how proud you are of what you achieved together. A genuine “thank you” goes a long way.
During our retreat, we had the opportunity to celebrate the exceptional results we achieved in the past business year. For us, taking time to be together, is the best way to celebrate and appreciate our dedication.
-
Building Meaningful Connections (and having fun):
Interpersonal connections lay the foundation for enhanced teamwork, effective communication, and a shared sense of purpose. Sharing fun moments can strengthen team spirit and even improve team performance.
The retreat allowed us to step away from our usual office environment and connect with one another on a deeper level. Through team-building activities and informal interactions (accompanied by one Negroni or two ;)), we formed stronger bonds, fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere.
-
Igniting Creativity and Innovation:
A change of scenery can inspire fresh perspectives and unlock creativity. Rather than having all workshops in dedicated meeting rooms, you might consider walking meetings, enjoying breakfast while brainstorming a new idea for a project or simply having dinner without talking and thinking about work.
In Arona, we immersed ourselves in a new environment, i.e. walking around the city or looking out at the lake. Creative brainstorming sessions enabled us to explore unconventional ideas, fueling our drive for continuous improvement and pushing boundaries.
-
Learning from Each Other:
Offsites are a great opportunity for sharing experiences and learning from each other. Maybe someone volunteers to prepare a learning sprint about a topic important to them or you invite an expert to hold a workshop or talk.
Our retreat presented an opportunity to gather insights from our colleagues and exchange knowledge with the team from Great Place To Work Italy. This collaborative learning experience broadened our horizons and provided us with new strategies for enhancing employee satisfaction and engagement.
-
Embracing Reflection and Growth:
In the midst of our busy schedules, it can be challenging to find time for reflection. A retreat can give you the chance to pause, reflect on achievements, and identify areas for growth.
By taking a step back and gaining perspective, we gained clarity on our goals, aspirations, and the path forward.
So, when planning your next company retreat, remember to create an environment that encourages celebration, fosters connections, sparks creativity, promotes learning, and allows for reflection. By doing so, you will unlock the full potential of your team and create a culture that thrives on shared achievements, innovation, and continuous growth.
For us, our retreat was an opportunity to personally connect, laugh, and reflect on the challenges we overcame and the milestones we achieved together.
We know that being trusted and valued and seen as an individual, rather than an employee, is crucial to motivation and engagement.
Being able to celebrate our accomplishments in such a picturesque setting reinforced the message that each team member is an integral part of our success story.
