Next week, for the first time in three years, our team members in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Victoria and Edmonton will all be united for a team retreat.

Even with reduced travel budgets, investing in team retreats remains important in the context of hybrid work. These retreats serve as valuable opportunities to bridge the physical and virtual gaps that can arise in remote collaboration.

By bringing team members together in person, even for a short period, retreats enable deeper connections, strengthen relationships, and foster a sense of unity. They provide an environment for open communication, enhanced collaboration, and team building activities that can be challenging to replicate solely through virtual means.

For us, our retreat will offer a chance to align goals, clarify expectations, and rejuvenate team spirit through shared development opportunities and training to enhance our collective subject matter expertise as human-centred leaders in our organization. We’re also fortunate to build in time with not only our Assistant Deputy Minsiter, but our President as well – a unique and valuable opportunity for our team members.

Team retreats, even if yearly, can therefore support hybrid teams for several reasons:

✨ They provide an opportunity for team members to interact face-to-face and build stronger personal connections. This helps foster a sense of camaraderie and trust, which can positively impact collaboration and teamwork.

✨ They offer a dedicated time for open and effective communication. Discussions, brainstorming sessions, and team-building activities can improve overall communication and understanding among team members.

✨ They create an environment that encourages teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. This shared experience can lead to improved collaboration even when working remotely.

✨ They allow you to engage in focused discussions and ensure everyone is on the same page regarding team objectives, roles, and responsibilities.

✨ They offer a break from routine, creating an opportunity for team members to recharge, bond, and learn together. This can have a positive impact on morale, motivation, and overall team satisfaction.

✨ They create a change of scenery and an environment conducive to fresh thinking, sparking new ideas and approaches that benefit the team’s work.

Team retreats ultimately create valuable opportunities to connect on a deeper level and strengthen the overall effectiveness of the team. But, if you don’t have the budget for travel, you can still consider a virtual retreat with dedicated uninterrupted time that focuses on similar goals and objectives.

The point here is that in order to achieve results, we need to find time to focus on one of our most important assets, our people. The return on this investment is one you can surely count on.