Why a Work Retreat Really Works
by Heather
2 minutes 43 seconds read.

Why a Work Retreat Really Works

In my former life as a writer for a well-known global magazine, we were often sent away on weeklong overseas work retreats. Once there, we worked from 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening … and boy did we work hard; much harder, in fact, than we did back in the office. We brainstormed, wrote and designed more in five days than we could ever have achieved in five weeks back home. Yet, no one ever complained and every year we eagerly volunteered ourselves again; clamouring to be on the retreat list. So what was the magazine’s secret to work retreat success?

A work retreat alters the way your brain thinks

It doesn’t matter how big or small your company is, a change of scenery will reenergise and inspire your team in ways that you may never have imagined.
The organisation I worked for knew that changing city walls for fields and mountains (or vice versa) awakens your senses. Avoiding busy towns and cities in favour of more rural locations is not only cheaper, but offers plenty of opportunities to get your employees out of their comfort zones. Such changes trigger your brain to make connections it normally wouldn’t make, allowing you to think outside the box – a crucial tool for success.

Getting to know you … getting to know all about you!

Getting away from the usual office grind gives you the opportunity to get to know your co workers like never before. Discovering that your usually unflappable boss is terrified of flying … that your staid creative director is a fearless karaoke singer … or that your seemingly introverted colleague speaks fluent French (Mandarin and Urdu) makes him or her seem less intimidating and more accessible, which is vital for good team work and camaraderie. Such work retreats improve communication, increase productivity and ultimately strengthen bottom line results.

Corporate retreat schedules and objectives (yawn)
Those dreaded words! However, being prescriptive with your overall objective enables your team to focus, focus, focus. Do you want to share some wishy-washy changes to the company policy? Or do you want to produce a powerful new direct mail campaign from scratch?Ensure your retreat is designed to help you achieve something tangible and actionable once back in the office.

Accommodation and travel
While it might seem appealing to travel to a five-star hotel that’s miles off the beaten track, it’s vital to remember that how you get to the location is as important as the location itself. It always helps if your accommodation is near a major airport and within a short drive. Other things to bear in mind are: affordability, activity options, climate and connectivity.

The Clos Mirabel Estate, in the heart of South-West France has hosted several successful corporate work events including conferences, residential training courses and AGMs. It boasts breathtaking views of the Pyrénées as well as outstanding opportunities for rafting, golfing, mountain biking, walking, wine tasting and more. Only 20/30 minutes from Pau/Lourdes airports respectively, and catering for up to 40 people, it’s an ideal choice for meetings, seminars or work retreats. Clients include To­tal, Tere­ga, Ar­gos, Bay­er, Cred­it Agri­cole, Eu­ralis, Safran, Grou­pa­ma, and Ex­co.