What’s REALLY wrong with team offsites - and how to fix it
Let me ask you 3 questions:
Is your team about to have a ‘team offsite’? Yes!
Are you excited about finally ‘getting the band back together again’ after COVID put the kibosh on offsites for so long? Yep, I’m pumped!
Has your team come up with a list of adventurous activities to fill the evenings? That’s a ‘Hell yes!’
Before you take one more step down the I’ve-got-15-amazing-presenters-locked-in path, I’m going to pause you right there. I want to help you avoid the most common trap with team offsites, which is:
Zero focus on the team.
Sounds bizarre, right? But sadly, a lot of team offsites - and team meetings for that matter - don’t spend any (or enough) time working on the team. They are filled with other stuff that may be valuable or interesting, but distracts from focusing on the team itself. Perfect powerpoint presentations from other teams in your business. External experts bamboozling you with their brilliance. Some refresher training on a topic everyone knows already but we haven’t been able to fit in anywhere else. A VIP (Very Important Policy) update from the Head of HR. And I’m sure you could add to the list.
It’s true that some of these things are actually really important and time should be set aside for them. But they should never make it onto the agenda of your team offsite. That agenda should consist of one thing, and one thing only: singular focus on your team dynamics and objectives.
Look at it this way: If your team were a car, chances are you’re well overdue for a ‘service’. And that’s what team offsites are for. They are the comprehensive service, wash, wax and buff that your team really needs to ensure it’s roadworthy for the next 10,000 kms.
So let’s make your team offsite really count. Here are three things I’d recommend you spend time on to make sure you’re ready to rock and roll for the road ahead:
1. Reconnection
Chances are that since you last had an offsite a lot has happened for your team members. Perhaps you’ve had newcomers to the team, or longstanding members have left. Make time to connect as people, not just as colleagues. Here’s an activity you can try:
Have everyone reflect on 1 thing that brings them joy outside work. Then have each person select an object from home that represents this thing and bring it with them to the workshop. Have each person share their object with the team. It’s a bit like grown up ‘show and tell’ and creates great insights and energy with your team.
2. Reflection
Think about the last few months (or years!) leading up to the offsite. Ask each person to reflect on how the team has been working together. What has the team been doing well, and how the team might improve? Try to avoid the activities of the team, which is really the ‘what you do’, and focus more on the behaviour and interactions within the team, the ‘how you do’.
Perhaps your team has been really supportive of one another - that’s what they’re doing well. Or perhaps there’s been a breakdown in your communication as a team - an area for improvement. Again pool your wisdom, celebrate your successes and develop some actions to address your improvement areas.
3. Refocus
Take some time to consider where you’re headed. How clear is your team on their purpose and strategy? What’s your number 1 priority right now? Team offsites are a great opportunity to check in with the team. Ask for their thoughts. Be curious about whether they are all on the same page or not. Take the opportunity to bring everyone into alignment, so as you leave the offsite you can be confident that everyone’s singing from the same song sheet.
Now you’re ready for a team offsite you can be proud of! Taking time to reconnect, reflect and refocus will replenish your team. I’m confident that you’ll be delighted you took time to take a long hard look under the hood of the car and avoided wasting your time fluffing around the car yard looking at all those other shiny vehicles. You’ll collectively refill the tank and then you'll be ready for the road ahead.
If you think you might need some assistance - get in touch - I happen to know a really good ‘mechanic’!
If you found this useful, you might also like ‘7 simple tips to connect with your team’.
