Company Retreats: Preventative Care for Distributed Companies

As I gear up for a client's inaugural all-hands company retreat in a few months, I've been reflecting back on a blog post I wrote back in February entitled, Trust Falls and Rope Courses.  It’s a great post mortem read about a successful leadership team retreat and how sometimes these retreats get a bad rep.

Like the interchangeable terms “remote work”, “co-located”, “working from home”, and “distributed team”, the term “company retreat” can be referred to as an “offsite”, “summit”, “camp”, or “meeting.” Company retreats are a strategy and running a company retreat is an expertise. They should not be looked at as a cookie cutter solution—your retreat should be customized to meet your team’s culture and your team’s goals and objectives.

Why host a company retreat if you’re a distributed company? Simply, it will create more opportunities for human connectedness and enhance seamless communications. Being physically together in the same room also builds trust. Retreats can help with the disconnectedness that virtual employees may feel.

Think of a company retreat as preventive care. If you nurture your employees in good times, they will be prepared for unexpected challenges in the future. With many companies, I’ve seen first hand the positive outcomes of a company retreat in the form of an “afterglow”—the magic that happens immediately after an event for a few months. Teams seem closer, more casual, more open, more communicative, and more productive.

Most of my clients host a company retreat once a year, and an executive/leadership team retreat once a year. There’s no right frequency—it’s what’s right for your needs and your culture…and your budget. Company retreats are not inexpensive. When you consider the lost client time (if you’re a services company), the resources needed, and the actual cost—it adds up. Many distributed companies take the (roughly 4% of overall revenue) funds they would use as office overhead (rent, facilities, etc) and put towards a line item called, “Employee Development.” Connectedness and culture are super important to any successful company, and especially to distributed teams.  The retreat can be the lifeblood of the company. Often employee retention and even client retention can be linked back to company retreats.

The planning and logistics of a company retreat are intensely complicated. Companies, a lot of times,  don’t realize what all is involved. They become frustrated and the event suffers. Often, it has the opposite effect of causing division. Full knowledge of what all is involved is imperative to a successful event. Finding the right venue is a big challenge: ensuring good wifi, proper meeting space, privacy, the list goes on. Sure, you can do it yourself, but why? Let a professional handle it for you and you’ll be amazed at the cost savings you receive through concessions and negotiating.

You have a friend in the business with andgreat. And we won’t even charge you to find a venue.

How Does Your Distributed Company Incorporate CSR?

Corporate Social Responsibility is a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations. Many of us have likely participated in employers CSR programs—taking the afternoon off to clean up the local beach, volunteering at a soup kitchen or shelter. It feels good to help your local community and give back, and it’s certainly a team bonding experience. And from a public relations perspective, looks great.

But, what if your company is distributed. How do you get everyone involved in  CSR programs? Not everyone can fly to one location, for example, to build a house for Habitat for Humanity, or participate in an ASL Charity Walk.

According to Global Workplace Analytics, telecommuting and virtual work has grown by 102.1 percent between 2005 and 2014. With this change in the workforce, it’s imperative companies include and engage all employees from various locations across the world.

Summit CPA Group, a 100% distributed company with employees living all over the USA in cities like Orlando, Fort Wayne, Hermosa Beach, Colorado Springs, and Flint.  Being 100% distributed doesn’t stop Summit CPA Group from incorporating a strong corporate culture that includes a very personalized CSR program. Annually, Summit CPA Group provides each employee $100. Employees choose to donate to any local non-profit of their choice. Summit CPA Group Co-Founder Jody Grunden says, “It’s important that each team member feels that they can contribute positively and do good in their local communities and support the specific cause(s) that are near and dear to their hearts.”

Some of the non-profits they choose to donate include: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, St. Jude’s Hospital, Boys Scouts/Girl Scouts, Central Missouri Diabetic Children’s Camp, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Why is a customized CSR program important? One team member said, “CPA firms can become so focused on staff productivity that they forget we have lives outside of work.  This CSR program is reminder that Summit CPA Group cares about who we are outside of the office and supports our interests."

Another team member shared that, “Last year Summit CPA Group supported my daughter's Girl Scout troop. I was pleased to have my employer support the same efforts that my daughter and the rest of the family worked.  The funds went to the local troop and helped reached the troop's fundraising goal, and of course my daughter communicated to her friends that her mommy's work had contributed. My daughter asked why Summit CPA Group was contributing and I proudly responded that they support their employees in endeavors outside of work.  She replied, "If I ever have a business I am going to do the same."”

How does your distributed company incorporate CSR?