As the world of work becomes increasingly distributed and flexible, remote offices are becoming an important tool for creating corporate culture and collaboration. Although remote dating is often seen as a pleasant pastime, it is now becoming a vital opportunity for colleagues to meet in person. In fact, the popularity of going abroad as a top reason for travel nearly doubled even before the global pandemic!
Teams want and need to meet in real life. This is not to say that the Office First 9 to 5 model is the only way to achieve this. Teams across industries and countries are finding new ways to connect people face-to-face, and remote meetings are one of the best ways to do this for many people.
With that in mind, what are the benefits of long distance dating? Why are they such powerful tools for companies and employees? Let's find out.
They help build relationships between team members.
Whether your company operates onsite, remotely, or in a hybrid format, chances are that not all team members know each other as well as they'd like. Offsite meetings are a way for all team members to communicate in a meaningful way outside of day-to-day activities. For your remote teams in particular, this is a great opportunity to bring relationships out of the metaverse and into the real world.
Through things like team building, employees can come out of their shell and develop a sense of camaraderie together. Whether it's an organized team event like a treasure hunt or something more spontaneous like an after-work drink, getting the team out of their professional environment will help them get to know each other on a more personal level. .
They increase employee engagement
Let's face it, remote jobs are a great perk that employees really appreciate. Whether it's a two-day trip to a country hotel packed with seminars or a successful summer party, the bottom line is that employees look forward to attending these events. One of the key indicators of the effectiveness of a successful field trip is whether people truly value their work, which is critical to employee engagement.
Outings are a way to show employees that they are appreciated. By holding events such as seminars, you give employees the opportunity to improve their skills, learn something new or connect with other team members. Seasonal holidays are a great way to celebrate not only success, but each other. Annual kick-off meetings help everyone in the company understand your business goals and what they should be working towards. All of this helps to keep employees happy, engaged and motivated.
They have creative juices flowing
Have you ever gotten so stuck on a project that you don't even know where to start? What did you do to restart the idea engine? You may have stepped away from the computer, had a cup of tea, gone for a walk or had a conversation with someone else. In fact, you have physically broken away from your routine for a moment, and this change of scenery has opened up a world of ideas and possibilities to help you solve the problem that was waiting for you.
The same goes for the exterior. By removing people from their everyday work environment, you remove them from default work patterns. A new space can be very conducive to creative thinking. That's why outdoor activities are a good time to think or work on projects that require original thinking and teamwork. The office environment is obviously a productive everyday workplace, but introducing a "new" element outside of the usual meeting rooms will provide that spark of energy and creativity that your team needs.
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They are great for strategic thinking
Like creativity, strategic thinking can benefit greatly from a change of scenery. Especially if you need teams to dive into their quarterly plan or tactics for the biggest project of the year, such as moving from the office to a more neutral meeting place, this can really help.
Think like this. Working on a key strategy requires a combination of concentration and teamwork. In a traditional office space, there are plenty of distractions that can get in your way, from colleagues stopping by to say hello to other meetings scheduled for your day. If you work from home, learning how to strategically use video conferencing tools can be overwhelming. However, during a team outing, you can set aside a specific time dedicated to that team and your team only. No distractions. It's the perfect place to disconnect from everything else and reconnect with your project.
Let's face it... they have a lot of fun
Productivity, creativity, strategy and team building aside... it's also a great hobby outside the office. We spend most of the year at work, except for a few weekends and holidays a year. We are always on the go, always looking for ways to do more, achieve more and make a bigger impact. Sometimes it can become overwhelming, or we can feel exhausted, undervalued, overwhelmed, uninspired and disconnected from life. And this is completely normal.
But companies can do something about it! By injecting a dose of fun a few times a year, employees are more likely to feel energized and appreciated. For this, it is not necessary to organize massive corporate events 10 times a year. Giving teams a small quarterly budget to organize meetings every 3 months can also be a much needed breath of fresh air. So why not consider offering teams the chance to chill out at a karaoke bar, on a mission, or on a day trip? They will thank you for it.
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