Key Takeaways From Our 2023 Company Retreat
This year our company retreat took place in Ibiza! From gorgeous beaches, sunny weather, and delicious food, we got to work together for three days while discovering everything Ibiza had to offer.
Our retreat began on Monday evening and ended Friday, with three full days to work and discover the island. We dedicated one full day to client work and the second to working on Rupp PR tasks. The third day was spent on the beach and exploring Ibiza itself. We enjoyed every bit of beach, sun, food, shopping, and culture, while spending important quality time together. We realized what an important addition a company retreat can be to a thriving and healthy company culture.
After our retreat, we got together to discuss our key takeaways, what worked and what didn’t, what we’d do differently next year, and what we would recommend for any companies trying to plan their own retreat!
Our Company Retreat Takeaways
Planning our trip
After our 2022 retreat in Vienna, we felt like we learned how to plan a more structured trip. So we decided to set up an easy structure where we dedicated one day to a specific client, one day to Rupp PR work, and one day to explore the island and enjoy team bonding.
We created a simple schedule before the trip to outline times, activities, dinner reservations, lunch breaks, etc. This was a great way to stay organized and on top of things throughout the trip. Everyone had a copy of the schedule and knew what was happening at all times.
A need for more time
We realized, however, that three days for a company retreat are not enough. We had a lot of work to finish, and it was difficult to fit everything into the three day time constriction. Next year we might consider taking five days in order to take more clients into consideration as well as expand on Rupp PR work.
Efficiency happens together
Forbes found that 81% of employees think that in person work is more effective and we found this to be very true during our retreat. We want to make one thing clear, we love and stand for remote work. We think it is the best way to assemble a competent and amazing team as it removes many in person restrictions and creates more flexibility.
Remote work, however, will never replace the efficiency and creativity of working together in person. Harvard Business Review highlighted that in person work is 34 times more effective than remote work. We agree as we find ourselves to be more productive, more efficient, and more focused on one single project when we are together and dedicating our time and attention to it.
Creative flow
Along with efficiency, we found that our creativity flowed better when we had each other to bounce ideas off of and organize our ideas visually via mind maps and time lines. We were able to come up with better proposals and create new ideas and therefore believe that being together is essential for a positive creative flow.
TravelPerk found that 34% of total employees think they are most creative on company retreats while 53% of Generation Z employees think that they have their most creative ideas on company retreats.
Flexibility is key
While we learned from last year that structuring days was important, we also learned that it’s important to go with the flow. We had a clear structure to our retreat, but we didn’t always end up following it.
We had different focuses on our work days instead of just one in order to get everything done. We also split our days into half working-half exploring as well. We think it’s important to go into a retreat having a structure, but if it changes, that’s okay too. Go with the flow!
Developing friendships
Another key reason to have a company retreat is that it helps foster and develop strong relationships with your coworkers. This is integral to a positive, healthy company culture as well as maintaining good internal chemistry. The better we know our coworkers, the better our team work is as we know how to work with them and what to expect.
Keep on track
Since we had A LOT of work to do, we found it difficult to always keep on track. We would constantly be distracted with little tasks that we needed to completed - just like in day to day life at the agency. Therefore, we realized that it is important to save tiny tasks for before or after the retreat so they don’t interrupt the structure or the workflow.
Focus on what you went there to do and remember you can save smaller issues for later, when you are no longer working together. This time is about working as efficiently as possible and working on things that you may not be able to do when you leave the retreat.
Where to stay
When we went to Vienna, we stayed in a hotel, but this time we decided to stay in a house and what an amazing change it was. We realized that staying at a house is much more productive than staying in a hotel. It is much easier to set up work spaces, have conversations flow naturally, and get work started and finished quicker.
Who to stay with
During this retreat, we stayed with other remote workers outside of our company. These remote workers belonged to the PR or sustainability industries, and it made for very interesting conversations. It helped us come up with new ideas, understand different perspectives, and find new solutions. Our fellow remote workers offered important insights that we were able to incorporate into our work.
In the future, we think that merging with other remote workers for the week, for that external input, is very important, valuable, and doable!
Ibiza as a Destination
There’s no other way to put it, we LOVE Ibiza. All of its culture, food, nightlife, scenery, and shopping, Ibiza has so much to offer. It’s a place that has something for everyone, whether you want to relax on a beach or dance the night away at a club. From families with children, couples, workers, and solo travelers, we saw all types of tourists staying on the island.
Culture and History
Ibiza is full of vibrant culture and interesting history. We learned so much about the fascinating background of the island while visiting the beautiful old part of Ibiza Town. We also were able to visit a sustainable farm, take part in the local community, and discover less overrun areas. We recommend strolling through old Ibiza Town and visiting the beautiful Catedral de Santa Maria.
Throughout our trip we also experienced Spanish and Catalan culture through the delicious array of traditional and cultural restaurants. The food was amazing, locally sourced, and allowed us to taste our way through Spanish and Catalan culture. We definitely recommend taking a visit to Juntos Farm, which offers local cuisine.
Entertainment
We, of course, had to go dancing in Ibiza to experience the local nightlife. We headed to Circoloco for a night of fun. While we were there we got to see one of our favorite DJs, Benji B. We recommend taking the time to research who is playing and what the clubs are like before you go, but it was definitely a can’t miss opportunity for us!
We enjoyed a walk through one of the many Hippie Markets which are a huge tradition in Ibiza. From stunning jewelry to beautiful handmade clothes, there is something for everyone at these charming little booths. Plus, you can enjoy a conversation with some of the locals while supporting their community!
Environment
Going to the beach was the highlight of the trip! We headed to a local beach close to where we were staying at around 8:30 am. It was already super sunny and warm, and we found an amazing spot, set up our umbrellas and towels, and had a yummy beach breakfast. If you love warm, crystal clear water then Ibiza is the perfect place for you. The beach was simply amazing with a great atmosphere and perfect conditions. We recommend going early to grab the perfect spot! And remember to bring lots of sunscreen!
While we didn’t get to explore nature on foot as the weather was too hot, we definitely want to come back to take a couple hiking excursions through the amazing mountains on the island. We were in awe of the beautiful landscapes!
Creative Inspiration
We think that Ibiza is a great option not only for a company retreat, but for any kind of trip. Last year in Vienna we experienced a lot of cultural inspiration, and this year Ibiza had not only that but so much creative inspiration for us to include in our work.
We loved Ibiza. This trip helped strengthen our company culture, allowed us to work together efficiently, and gave us plenty of ideas for next year while discovering a new place. We know that company retreats can be tricky to organize, but with the right people on your team, we definitely recommend taking the time to go on one. Especially if your team is remote, you’ll be amazed to see how much working together can make a difference.