How to follow up after a company retreat and ensure a lasting impact

If you've recently organised or attended a company retreat, you're probably aware of the beneficial insights, team bonding, and strategic planning during these offsite gatherings.

It's time to keep the good feelings going after a fantastic company retreat full of insights and team building.

Basejam knows the value of a retreat in developing teamwork and revitalising your team's spirit. And in this article, we'll look at how to follow up after a corporate retreat to ensure those positive benefits last.

Let’s get started.

What is following up after a company retreat?

Company retreats allow employees to rest, reflect, and interact with each other outside of the office. They offer team building, learning, relaxation, and collaborative activities in different locations.

In short, retreats are goal-driven, so it’s important to follow up with your team to understand what they took from the experience, summarise their insights, and plan for the future.

This important process usually includes:

• Sending follow-up emails
• Asking for feedback
• Organising debriefing meetings
• Implementing suggestions

Are you looking to simplify retreat planning so you can focus on the follow-up?

Basejam connects teams with beautiful, retreat-ready venues from around the world. Use filters to find the perfect destination and gain direct communication with hosts. We don’t charge any fees so you can book confidently.

Why follow up after a company retreat?

A retreat follow-up strategy is crucial for ensuring the retreat's conclusions are translated into practical results. It promotes team members' momentum, accountability, and alignment.

• Reinforcement of Learning and Insights: Following up after a company retreat helps reinforce learning and insights gained during the retreat. It ensures that the key takeaways from the retreat are remembered and integrated into the team's ongoing practices and decision-making processes.
• Implementation of Action Items: Having a retreat follow-up strategy ensures that the strategic decisions and plans made during the retreat are put into practical effect. This leads to visible progress and positive outcomes for the organisation.
• Alignment with Company Goals: A retreat follow-up strategy guarantees that the plans and actions formulated during the retreat are directly tied to the organisation's overall objectives. This alignment helps the team work cohesively toward common goals, improving efficiency and teamwork.
• Feedback and Improvement: A post-retreat follow-up allows an organisation to gather valuable input on what worked well and what could be improved. This approach helps identify areas for growth and fine-tuning, contributing to the continuous improvement of future retreats and overall organisational processes.

So, having a retreat follow-up strategy isn't simply a nice-to-have; it's a requirement for putting your retreat's ideas into action.

How to follow up after a company retreat

1. Plan your follow-up strategy while at the retreat

Your follow-up strategy is built around what happens at the retreat—so pay attention!

What seems to be effective? What could be improved? What was accomplished? What suggestions were made (and by whom)? These questions will help you create a plan to implement the most effective ideas.

Make sure you’re taking detailed notes throughout the retreat, too—that way, you can refer back to any notes or recommendations you’ve made when it's time to implement change.

2. Don’t go back on the grid the minute you leave the retreat

Ready for a pro tip? Don’t jump straight back into your old routine immediately after leaving the retreat. If you do, you risk old habits and processes resurfacing out of necessity.

Give yourself (and your team) space to think about the insights you’ve gained and the ideas you’ve discussed. You can also use this time to finalise an action plan (more on that in a minute) that incorporates the important changes.

3. Make an action plan

When you return to the office, it's time to implement what you’ve learned from the retreat.

To ensure success in achieving the goals set out for the retreat, it is important to create a detailed plan that outlines every step of the process. For example, if feedback indicates a need to improve customer service, specific goals should be identified, tasks assigned, and procedures explained to achieve the desired outcome.

4. Acknowledge everyone involved

Remember to express your gratitude.

Thank everyone who helped with the retreat, including your team, the organisers, and the support personnel. A modest token of appreciation or certificate of appreciation can go a long way toward expressing your heartfelt gratitude.

Here’s an example of a post-company retreat message:

Dear Team,

I am writing to thank each of you for your tremendous efforts in making our company retreat a resounding success. The event would not have been possible without the combined effort of our exceptional staff, dedicated vendors, and everyone else who contributed their time and energy.

Your hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence were truly commendable. From the meticulous planning and seamless execution to the friendly and welcoming atmosphere, every aspect of the retreat was a testament to your dedication and teamwork.

The retreat's success reflects our team's talent and professionalism and the strong bonds we’ve built as a unit. Through your collective efforts, we created an environment that fostered learning, collaboration, and camaraderie.

I would like to extend a special thank you to our vendors and partners who provided exceptional services and support throughout the retreat. Your contribution played a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience for everyone involved.

Once again, thank you all for your hard work, creativity, and unwavering commitment. The success of this retreat is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal. Let us carry this spirit forward as we strive for excellence in everything we do.

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

You should also send out a more detailed follow-up email to everyone who attended the retreat, such as: Dear Team,

I hope this message finds you all in high spirits! We want to thank all of you for your tremendous efforts in making our recent company retreat an unforgettable experience.

From the inspiring speeches to the engaging workshops and the shared moments of laughter and learning, our retreat wouldn't have been the same without your active participation and enthusiasm.

In case you missed any insightful speeches or if you'd like to revisit them, we've recorded all the sessions for your convenience. You can access them [here](insert link).

We've also prepared a document summarising the key takeaway points from each session. It's a handy reference guide to refresh your memory on the most important insights. You can download it [here](insert link).

Finally, here’s a photo album and video montage that captures some of the incredible moments we shared. Relive the memories [here](insert link).

Once again, thank you all for your dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to making our company retreat a resounding success. We're excited to carry the energy and inspiration from the retreat into our day-to-day work.

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

5. Send out a post-event survey

Use surveys to gather valuable insights from your team about the retreat. You can ask questions like:

• How satisfied were you with the event?
• What was your favourite part of the retreat?
• What areas can we improve on?
• Did you find the event useful?
• Did the retreat meet your expectations?
• Would you attend future events?
• Would you recommend our events to others?

6. Conduct a post-event meeting

After you've collected feedback through the survey, gather your team for a meeting. This is where you:

• Discuss the survey results.
• Identify what went well during the retreat.
• Highlight areas that need improvement.
• Develop a plan for making changes in future retreats or events.

A post-retreat meeting is crucial for effectively putting the insights gained from the retreat into actionable steps.

Conclusion

Company retreats are transforming experiences that can have a long-term impact on the cohesion and productivity of your company. The key to reaping the full benefits is a well-executed follow-up strategy.

You may ensure the retreat's positive consequences last by preparing, communicating, and learning from it. Allow your next company retreat to be more than just a memorable occasion but also a catalyst for long-term progress and success.

Explore Basejam for a curated list of retreat venues in beautiful locations worldwide. Simplify planning so you can focus on making your retreat memorable and impactful!