7 days ago

What are Team Away Days (and Do They Actually Achieve Anything)?

Team away days are perceived in some quarters as an excuse to ditch the office and enjoy a free lunch (not the case, although we won’t lie, that’s a big perk!). So, what exactly are team away days? And moreover, what are the real purpose and business benefits behind these outings?

A diverse group of young, casually dressed corporate staff in lanyards, smiling and laughing during a casual discussion over a clipboard.

Most Popular Types of Team Away Days

Imagine trading your usual routine for a day of ziplining, DIY Formula One, or a bake off. It’s a failproof way to start seeing a colleague as more than the person who sits two desks over.

Some of the biggest favourites include:

· Team building retreats - Perfect for deepening connections and setting strategic goals

· Wellness days - Think yoga, meditation, and relaxation, because a healthy team is a happy team

· Outdoor adventures - For the thrill-seekers who want to climb, hike, or kayak their way to better teamwork

· Celebration events - Recognise achievements and reward hard work with a well-earned day of fun.

But away days have some serious benefits beyond the laughs and selfies, for both teams and businesses.

Recruitment giant Reed’s Jack Ireland explained in his recent The benefits of team away days motivating your workforce article:

“There's a lot to be said for investing in an away day for your team. Being out of the normal workplace environment can be extremely beneficial for everyone involved - often your team will feel invigorated, excited and creative.

“This new-found enthusiasm can help you plan exciting projects, address sensitive issues, rebrand your company’s vision and mission statement, and discover new strengths and skills in your colleagues.”

And here’s why…

A group of young corporate staff in casual outdoor wear, stooping down and solving a puzzle in a forest at a team away day.

Break Down the Barriers (Even the Awkward Ones)

The best thing about team away days? They’re a great equaliser. Job titles melt away outside the office. Suddenly, the Chief Exec is just another person trying not to fall off the paddleboard.

This even playing field (pun intended!) benefits your team and your organisation by:

· Nurturing genuine connections - Forget work hierarchies and the usual meeting agendas. This is where real conversations happen.

· Improving communication - It’s easier for team members to open up and get to know each other outside company walls, leading to better collaboration back at work.

Plus, off-site team away days are perfect platforms for looking at things through different lenses.

Spark Creativity

Away days are a chance to shake up routine thinking and tap into fresh, creative ideas by stepping out of the daily grind. They create the ideal environment to:

· Think outside the proverbial box - A change of scenery works wonders for creativity. And who knows? You might just solve an ongoing process bottleneck while competing in a treasure hunt!

· Brainstorm - Employees are more likely to come up with innovation solutions when freed from the usual distractions.

Furthermore, team away days are also a great way for shower some R&R on your hard-working staff.

Four smiling young corporate staff in red and white team shirts and baseball caps at a team away day.

Recharge & Refresh

An away day is like hitting the reset button for frazzled, jaded teams, helping them come back re-energised. This is achieved by:

· Boosting motivation - Stepping away from the office to focus on fun and teamwork reignite passion and motivation.

· Clearing mental clutter - Sometimes, all it takes is a change of scenery to reset the brain and inspire new ideas.

Uplevel Skills (But Make It Fun)

The focus might be (and indeed should be) on fun. But these events can also be a sneaky way to develop skills and uncover hidden talents by:

· Sharpening problem-solving - Team challenges help employees think on their feet and collaborate in new ways.

· Spotting untapped strengths - You might discover a team member who hides in the background has a knack for leadership when they’re put in charge of a group activity.

Four diverse young corporate staff in yellow t-shirts with a map and tablet, trying to solve a clue at one of their employer's team away days.

Mix up the activities to keep it fresh each time, because nobody wants to do the same trust falls every year!

And don’t stick to the same place, no matter how amazing last year’s venue was. There are plenty more around. So, take the team somewhere different to completely break away from the norm.

Oh, and get in touch with The Venue Hunters. We’ll help you find the perfect venue and hook you up with the best suppliers in the business. Our FREE venue finding service has got you covered for all things team away days, whether you’re planning a creative workshop or an outdoor adventure.