For companies that work remotely or in a hybrid work model, it is very important to promote recreational meetings where all company members can attend. It is essential to encourage teamwork, appreciation and pride for the company and for those who are part of it; to foster a growth mindset; and to increase the sense of belonging.

These types of events are especially convenient for companies with high staff turnover. Establishing close bonds with the people you work with remotely, hybridly, or even in-person can take a lot of time. Creating experiences that go beyond the work routine can accelerate those timelines.

To make this possible, the company must guarantee the necessary facilities, such as granting half a day (or a day) off so that those who are far away can travel; covering tickets or fuel; and providing food, drink, and accommodation throughout the event. In addition, a motivating proposal should be offered so that people feel interested and enthusiastic about participating.

This article will address all these topics and will also tell you what types of face-to-face gatherings can be held. Besides, we will give you 10 concrete steps to help you organize events successfully.

In this article:

At XOOR we hold 3 different types of recreational activities every year in order to spend pleasant moments, strengthen bonds and cultivate memorable memories with the team beyond the daily routines. Since we work remotely or in a hybrid model, these gatherings allow us to get closer and celebrate our achievements in person.

To make sure that all the guests can attend these events, XOOR provides transport either by long distance bus or airplane, or fuel for those who drive their own vehicles. In addition, the company grants half a day off so that people can move from one city to another (in case of being far away, a full day). All costs for accommodation, meals, and recreational activities are also covered.

It is possible to hold face-to-face meetings for educational, work-related or recreational purposes. The type of event to be held will depend on the objectives of the business and the issues that you wish to tackle.

For example, if the company notices that the team is particularly interested in updating their knowledge, learning new tools or exploring a topic in depth, they could consider organizing seminars, workshops or even conferences.

If, on the other hand, there are difficulties in communication and/or organization of the projects to be developed, co-working can be really helpful. It is very important to determine deadlines to fulfill specific tasks in order to make the most effective use of time and not to spend hours with conversations that do not lead to any resolution.

If the problems have to do with promoting a sense of belonging, teamwork, and emotional commitment among colleagues, the best option is to have face-to-face recreational gatherings such as parties, picnics, sports tournaments, excursions, or festivals.

Organization is key in any type of event, whether it is a short meeting with a few people, a weekend retreat with the whole team, or a multitudinous conference. Below you will find 10 steps to achieve a successful face-to-face meeting:

To ensure that recreational face-to-face meetings work, the first step is to establish clear objectives. Without a measuring unit, it becomes impossible to determine if we achieved positive results. Similarly, using indicators allows for the quantification of the situation before and after the meeting.

By doing so, you can distinguish between the satisfaction of those who attended the event and the actual results of the activity. In other words, to determine whether an event was successful, you can consider if the team had a good time and would participate again. However, it's much more crucial to evaluate whether the established objectives have been achieved. For instance, did the attendees internalize the company's values? Did their collaborative work improve? Did they adopt specific tools?

Secondly, there has to be a correlation between your objectives and the activities planned for the event. For instance, if your goal is to foster teamwork and build camaraderie, a training on software development may not be the best fit. Choosing activities that align with your objectives enhances the chances of achieving the desired outcomes.

The third dimension to consider is persistence. When aiming to achieve complex objectives such as developing soft skills, which cannot be learned through mathematical exercises, it is essential to conduct activities regularly and refresh them every time a new member joins the team. Building camaraderie and fostering a sense of belonging among employees is an ongoing effort that requires continuous nurturing. A single event or meeting may not be sufficient in this regard.

Finally, there are no magic recipes! No matter how long and how carefully you have organized the event, nothing can guarantee that it will be 100% successful. And even more important: not all formulas work for all events, nor for all companies. So it will be key to systematize the information: what did you do and which were the results, what went wrong, what went very well, which supplier companies satisfied and which did not, in order to know if you are on the right track or if you need to correct the course.

If this article has given you useful information, you can help us by sharing it with your colleagues and on your social media. Keep reading our content here! You can also follow us on Linkedin, Twitter and subscribe to our Youtube Channel.