Are you in the brainstorming phase of planning your team’s offsite meeting? There are tons of offsite ideas that can range from free day trips for small teams to extravagant luxury retreats for larger organizations. What all of these options have in common, however, is that they prioritize taking a strategic break to improve creativity and communication once you get back in the office.
Browse some of these team offsite activities below to decide what sort of company offsite to host, learn the potential cost, brainstorm the team-building games that can foster collaboration, and learn how to pick a venue that meets your needs.
8 Team Offsite Ideas for Small Businesses
If you have a small team and a limited budget it doesn’t mean you can’t plan an excellent offsite meeting. Lean on local resources and personal contributions to bolster planning.
1. Local hike
There’s nothing like succeeding as a team. Sometimes the simplest successes come from things like summiting a hike together. Make the most of local nature resources to find the kind of setting that gives your team a challenge they can conquer together, and keep in mind any accessibility needs. Hikes offer ample time to chat and collaborate as you navigate up the trails.
2. Artistic workshop
Perfect for small teams and tight budgets, setting up an artistic workshop or guided paint night requires some craft supplies and hors d’oeuvres. You can even hire an instructor to walk your team through a pre-planned design. Your team may learn important lessons about how perspectives can differ as you each paint the same thing differently.
3. Improv show
Finding a local improv event can be a great way to get the team together out of the office. Or opt for an improv workshop where you all can learn the importance of saying yes to your teammates. With low planning and a reasonable budget, improv shows and other local events can provide great offsite options.
4. Scavenger hunt
Easy to set up in areas surrounding the office, a scavenger hunt gets people away from the desk and ups their competitiveness. Make it as serious or as silly as you want, but design it so coworkers get to know new people and work together as a team.
5. Coworking gathering for remote workers
Is your team largely remote? Snag a meeting space in a coworking location to get some face time. The right kind of coworking space can help facilitate big-picture business chats while also providing resources for downtime like break rooms and nearby attractions.
6. Cooking classes
Sitting down for a meal with your teammates often leads to great conversations. But making a meal together can help you get to know each other even better. In a cooking class, everyone can learn a new recipe or technique while leaning on each other’s knowledge and strength. This also provides an important space for conversation outside of the conference room.
Give back to your community together by volunteering locally. Spend the day walking puppies together or run a food drive for your food bank. Reacquainting yourself with your community and potential customers can help influence some of your mission planning once you’re back at work.
8. Karaoke
A classic way to kick back with coworkers outside the office, karaoke can be completely irreverent or the most serious singing competition since American Idol, perfect for all personalities to enjoy. Look for this affordable option near locations with meeting space or private dining to extend the day and make room for work-related topics as well as ballads.
8 Team Offsite Activities for Large Enterprises
Large enterprises face unique expectations and needs when planning an offsite meeting. While budgets may be bigger, moving and accommodating so many team members can be a challenge. Look for event spaces and destinations that have pre-structured activities to help with the planning portion of your events.
1. Resort destination
Sometimes the best option for a work break is a vacation. And when you bring your colleagues to a resort you can really work hard, play harder. All-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, skiing in Aspen, or taking a cruise off the coastline can all be great ways to both reward team members and strategize next year’s success with high-performing teams.
2. Yoga retreat
There’s nothing like a little zen in the yoga studio after a hard press in the office. Your high-impact team deserves some downtime, which is why scheduling a yoga retreat can be a great offsite option. Ideal for large enterprises that can book out a whole or partial retreat location, this kind of trip offers built-in activities with natural lulls to foster connection.
3. Volunteer trip
Put your teamwork skills together for a greater cause with a volunteer trip. Build houses for those in need and practice some communication skills. Participate in some environmental stewardship as you clean up forests and parks and re-center on your company’s own altruistic motivations.
4. Cook-off
If your team relies on a competitive edge, give them a space to compete for fun at a cook-off event. This can be a great option for large companies with many competitors. Structure it like “The Great British Bake Off” and shake things up by assigning folks to groups different from work teams. Or take a page out of the “Chopped” book and see which team can come up with the best meal from a random basket of ingredients.
5. Icebreaker games
Large enterprises may struggle to provide opportunities for coworkers to get to know each other outside of immediate teams. When you have opportunities for facetime at a conference-style offsite, it’s important to schedule icebreaker games. Get to know each other quickly so cross-department communication gets easier.
6. Casino trip
Get your teammates together for a night or two at a casino-style destination where you can stay overnight, enjoy concerts and entertainment, eat at fantastic restaurants and buffets, and even raise the stakes in a friendly game of poker. A something-for-everyone destination, casinos and their attached resorts may even offer conference center options for meetings alongside all the fun you can have.
7. Extreme sports
Trust falls are out and tandem bungee jumping is in! When the adrenaline gets going, magic can happen. Ideal for teams who are comfortable under high pressure, checking out some bungee jumping or cliff diving locales can be a great way to reconnect at the level your team needs.
8. Escape room
Being locked in a room together and relying on communication to escape can be an important learning experience for some teams. Escape rooms come with the added fun of silly themes and the relaxation of time away from the office.
Key Considerations for Both SMB and Enterprise Offsites
No matter the size of your business, a well-planned offsite can help open doors to collaboration and creativity that your day-to-day in the office may not permit. Striking the right balance of fun and work with team-building activities and big-picture professional conferencing is important.
Here are some tips for planning a company offsite no matter your team’s size:
1. Set a budget: Big or small, your offsite budget is an investment in your team’s future. Budgeting is essential to getting the highest ROI while also enjoying a quality experience.
2. Appoint a facilitator: Find someone willing to facilitate from your office or work with a professional third-party facilitator to handle the planning stages and manage group discussions.
3. Find the right venue: Pin down locations that provide the kind of conference space or breakout rooms that you need for work-related activities. Coworking spaces may provide a home away from home during your offsite with all the tools necessary for presentations, team meetings, and digital connectivity. Look for locations near attractions that can provide some leisure time as well.
4. Balance play and fun: Take as much time for fun as you do for business at the offsite. This is a time for balance and an opportunity to rest so that teams return to the office with clear heads and new ideas.
5. Set measurable targets: What do you want to achieve from the offsite and how can you gauge success? Set some targets to measure this success after your meeting is over and don’t be afraid to ask for subjective feedback from participants as well.
Unlock the Perfect Space for Offsite Meetings and Activities
The key to any type of offsite is the location. When you’re looking for your office home away from home for a company offsite, consider the coworking spaces at Industrious. Available in locations across many major metro areas, Industrious offers turnkey solutions for bringing teams together wherever you may travel.