The sunny summer months offer prime opportunities for companies to plan morale-boosting away days and team bonding trips. By investing in leisurely breaks outside routine technology and work, organizations can re-energize and inspire employees.
Scheduling relaxing summer outings lets companies recharge teams, strengthen connections, boost creativity and problem-solving. Employees return refreshed, feeling collaborative and ready to excel. That investment in bonding experiences during warmer months benefits company culture and the bottom line with improved satisfaction, performance and loyalty.
Plan engaging team-building events and fun trips
When planning an event or a corporate summer outing, choose destinations and activities that (although optional) will bring employees together. Consider weekend retreats to natural settings that allow for hiking, boating, or other outdoor bonding experiences. For urban teams, arrange a trip to explore the city together through sightseeing, food tours, baseball games or amusement parks.
Cooking classes, wine tastings, craft workshops and volunteering are great on-site team activities at local attractions. While, if budget allows, renting summer camps, ranches, or lake houses allows employees and invited guests to network in a relaxing and enjoyable environment.
Make sure you ask staff beforehand about their interests, hobbies and desired locations. One team may love the idea of beach volleyball and surf lessons, while another would prefer costume parties and karaoke. Know your employees’ personalities and preferences to optimize engagement. It’s a good idea to arrange shared activities that encourage bonding and conversations, as simply being in the same location does not guarantee connections will happen. Foster interaction through collaborative games, contests, workshops, tours and discussion groups. Schedule both structured team building and unstructured leisure time. However, not everyone shares the same interests and appetite for sport so respect individual personalities and their preferred ways of connecting with others.
The goal is choosing destinations and experiences that align with company values and culture. For example, an art museum may pair well for creative agencies, while volunteering activities reinforce civic-minded organizations. Maximize engagement by planning summer away days based on what resonates most with employees.
Include budget-friendly travel incentives
Summer team getaways don’t have to break the bank. Offer incentives like extra Paid Time Off (PTO), work-from-home Fridays or free, catered team lunches to motivate and excite employees. These relatively low-cost perks still provide a sense of escape from the daily grind.
For affordable trips, subsidize part of the cost for drivable destinations within a few hours – beach or lake cabins, camping, ranch resorts and regional amusement parks are great options. Staycations at local hotels or accommodation allow for team bonding without significant travel expenses. In addition, why not consider less obvious locations beyond major cities to get better deals. For example, explore smaller beach towns, mountain villages, historic regions and scenic parks for budget-friendly rates. Look at dates before or after peak times for additional savings, shoulder seasons often represent great value for money.
Incorporate inexpensive on-site activities like potlucks, lawn games, trivia nights and talent shows. Schedule public museum tours or beach meetups instead of costly venues. Encourage employees to suggest free or affordable activities they enjoy and can lead.
Reward teams who meet goals with simple incentivizing contests – be inclusive by allowing employees to vote on desired locations within set budget parameters. Getting creative can net big morale boosts without overspending.
Consider activities that recharge staff batteries
Schedule time during summer outings for employees to fully unplug from technology and mentally recharge. Breaks from habitual work routines are great for sparking creativity, enhancing perspective and boosting problem-solving skills.
Plan activities that get teams away from tired conferences and typical trust exercises. A round of golf at inspiring courses allows for relaxed bonding and mentoring conversations, consider using local providers of simulators and equipment to accommodate various skill levels.
Winery tours, historical sites, architecture tours, cooking classes, spa retreats or hobby workshops present relaxing alternatives tailored to employees’ interests. The change in environment and focus can work wonders.
Casual activities open up opportunities for connection. An afternoon fishing trip or board games night facilitates friendly banter and storytelling. Schedule leisure time for peers to interact without work pressures.
By mixing business with summer pleasure, teams re-energize with an improved mindset. The break from routine technology and responsibilities allows employees to refocus when they return to the office. Renewed creativity, collaboration and morale follow.
Optimize any time spent away
To fully recharge teams, emphasize the importance of disconnecting from work during summer outings. Adjust office hours and email availability so employees can truly unplug. Designate certain days entirely “off the grid” to experience a complete mental break on an away day.
Send out post-trip surveys to collect feedback on highlights, suggestions and preferences. Analyze results to determine trips and activities employees found most engaging and morale-boosting. Schedule sufficient free time for peers to interact without packed back-to-back activities. Build in buffer room for spontaneity – employees will often create their own bonding experiences.
Set expectations ahead of time on technology and work boundaries. Encourage teams to be fully present and make the most of the time invested. A change of pace and scenery lets creative juices flow.
The goal is to optimize summer outings for maximum inspiration, fun and connectivity. Employees return to work empowered by renewed relationships, creativity and focus generated during quality time away.
Leverage getaways to boost marketing and PR campaigns
Summer team trips present excellent opportunities to capture engaging marketing content. Designate staff members as photographers and videographers to document experiences throughout the journey. The fun atmosphere and change of scenery will lend itself to authentic, high-quality shots.
Encourage employees to take photos showcasing laughter, collaboration and camaraderie. Gather dynamic video that conveys your unique culture in action. Record testimonials where staff share trip highlights and benefits gained. Use this content across social media, websites, newsletters and internal communications.
Quantify outcomes by conducting pre and post-trip employee engagement surveys to measure increases in things like collaboration, creativity, or problem-solving. Poll staff on the most impactful aspects of the getaway, then use hard data like “Our summer trip improved teamwork by 25%” in promotional materials.
Showcasing summer outings provides marketing benefits by highlighting your emphasis on team building, culture and employee experience. Candid photos and videos will help recruit better talent and show customers your values. With proper planning, away days can support external PR and branding goals in addition to internal morale.
Invest in your employee’s morale to re-boot productivity
Summer team getaways provide immense benefits for inspiring employees and strengthening company culture. By planning leisure trips and activities, organizations can re-energize their workforce and boost collaboration.
Investing in quality bonding experiences outside the office will improve morale, satisfaction, and performance. This summer, prioritize recharging your staff through thoughtfully-planned away days tailored to their interests and your company values.
Article by Dakota Murphey.
