A new year brings with it new beginnings, fresh starts, and renewed energy.
Sometimes, what’s true in our personal lives is just as true at work. People need time to pause, reset, and get clear on where they’re headed. Companies do too. When an organization takes a moment to breathe, regroup, and move forward with intention, everything runs more smoothly, and the path ahead becomes clearer.
Goals & Alignment
On a personal level, we are already in a goal-setting frame of mind at the beginning of the year. This means we are open to reflection and motivated to align our goals and actions. Offering a company retreat or offsite at the start of the year is a great way to make sure that same level of intentionality carries through to your organization. It’s an opportunity not only to share company goals with your team but to explain why these goals exist and matter. Aligning your team early on with a company retreat will help foster genuine connection and team cohesion, providing a chance to connect as a group. Beginning the year this way sets everyone up with a sense of focus and direction that will last long-term.
Sutton Planning Tip: Share company goals first, then invite team members to share their own goals (both professional and personal). Alignment and connection deepen when people feel seen and heard.
Momentum
There is a fresh, vibrant kind of energy that comes naturally with every new year. Once clarity is established, true momentum can begin. Your team knows the goal, they are aligned with the mission, and can now start making real progress toward those goals and intentions. Think of a company retreat as an initial catalyst that snowballs progress throughout the year. When done well, the initial investment of a retreat will continue to pay off long after the experience has ended.
Sutton Planning Tip: Build in quarterly touchpoints where team members can reconnect, share progress, and realign as needed.
Outcomes and Impact
By this time next year, you should be able to point at your company retreat as the moment that set everything in motion and encouraged your team to make progress on their goals. Each quarter, you have something to refer back to. The outcomes from the rest of the year are positive because of the time taken at the start of the year to align yourselves as a team. The positive outcomes you see throughout the year don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of taking time at the start of the year to come together with purpose.
Sutton Planning Tip: At each retreat, have team members come prepared to share highlights and accomplishments from the previous year.
It’s not too late to begin planning your company retreat for next year. Connect with us today to learn more and get started!