An off-site meeting can shake things up and revitalize and reenergize your employees, building team spirit and getting everyone’s creative juices flowing again. A meeting “away from home” is often the best way to generate new enthusiasm, new ideas and a renewed commitment to company goals.
But an off-site meeting that is not well-planned can be a disaster. You don’t want the day to be memorable for the wrong reasons. Here are three tips for planning a successful off-site meeting from AllBusiness.com, an online resource for small businesses:
Aim high. When planning an off-site meeting, people usually set their expectations too low. Thinking about the day strategically can make it more than just a simple bonding experience;
it can become an opportunity to solve office problems, generate new ideas, and help employees grow. Anchor the meeting with goals that actually mean something to the business.
Pick a creative location. A ho-hum location will produce ho-hum results. The physical surroundings of your off-site meeting can make an enormous difference. Hotels and conference centers are great locations, but they’re not the only options. Some creative alternatives include movie theaters, bowling alleys, sports arenas, museums, theme parks, and other quirky venues. Think outside the box.
Create a detailed schedule. Work backwards from your event date to determine what needs to be done beforehand, and when. Be conscious of production lead time, shipping times for deliveries, and anything else that needs to be thought out before the meeting day.
