Fast-paced business environments can quickly burn the workforce out. With deadlines regularly looming and targets constantly lingering in the background, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and crave rest from the continuous grind. Over time, the longer that CEOs and business executives ignore the all-important warning signs, the company culture can quickly crumble and disintegrate.
Taking a break is not a sign of weakness nor is it one that exemplifies inefficiency – forward-thinking CEOs are well aware of this. Building trust among their teams is pivotal, but it’s harder when the workforce is disengaged due to working too hard. However, they also have an incredibly powerful solution at their disposal, one that can drastically improve the culture and experience of their team: team holidays.
Far from being an overly frivolous expense or a distraction from vital work tasks, well-planned company getaways can be a transformative experience in shaping a positive, productive, and collaborative company environment.
Types of Team Holidays
The type of company holiday chosen can profoundly impact its effectiveness in improving company culture. CEOs and managing directors will need to think carefully about the lifestyles and personalities of the team members who will be taking part, along with what facets of a holiday are valuable to them. Some may prefer a more tranquil setting while others would crave more activities and adventure.
Wellness retreats focused on physical and mental well-being
Community service projects and volunteering for a good cause
Visits to historical sites or immersive experiences
Adventure retreats involving hiking, rock climbing or water rafting
Conferences, workshops and seminars with leisure activities intertwined
Whatever your decision, consider one that accounts for all the preferences of your team as much as possible. With enough time and careful consideration, you can find something that strengthens the bond between your time while giving them ample time to relax and unwind away from the office environment. There is also some financial incentive for business owners too – as some team-building events are tax-deductible and cost-effective.
Let’s look at how a team holiday and getaway can improve the culture within your organisation.
Encouraging Holiday Usage
Worryingly, annual leave taken across the UK has dropped in recent years according to AccessPeopleHR’s Annual Leave Report 2024, often citing employees feeling ‘too busy’ to take time off or being unable to justify the expenses of holidays due to the cost of living crisis. CEOs should take steps to encourage their employees to utilise their annual leave as it is proven to reduce burnout, lower the risk of health issues, and cultivate an unhealthy work-life balance.
If employees don’t use their full entitlement, their job satisfaction and motivation could also take a profound hit. While annual leave is a legal requirement, employers aren’t obligated to let it roll over to the following year. However, CEOs must, if they want to promote a healthy company culture, encourage their staff to use their annual leave and remove any stigma that ‘work comes first’.
Strengthening Bonds
At the heart of any strong company culture lies a sense of camaraderie and friendliness among the team. While it’s no secret that these connections are built every day when colleagues interact with one another in the office, taking part in a company-funded team getaway fosters more powerful connections.
Interacting in a relaxed, neutral, non-workplace setting, free from hierarchies, pressures, and KPIs, allows them plenty of time to reset their minds and bodies and take some much-needed downtime.
These shared experiences strengthen bonds, create lasting memories and improve communication. When colleagues return from a team holiday, it’s not uncommon to find barriers have been broken down and collaboration is more effective and open.
Breaking Down Silos
Many organisations with segregated departments and teams can see them become isolated from one another. A silo mentality can work in some capacity but, if you’re trying to encourage transparency, collaboration and productivity, breaking those down can be the key to unlocking new opportunities and growth potential.
Team holidays that bring together members from different departments, encouraging them to interact more than they would in a day-to-day setting, can foster cross-departmental understanding and cooperation. Employees in different departments may then ultimately create stronger connections than if they had stayed in the office altogether.
Boosting Morale and Reducing Burnout
Nowadays, it’s common to find yourself immersed in an ‘always-on’ work culture, which is why burnout has become a pertinent concern for several organisations. Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report 2024 (based on a YouGov survey of 2060 adults) found that 91% of adults possessed high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the past year, leading to 20% of workers needing time off work in that period.
Team holidays provide an opportunity for staff to step away from the daily grind and recharge, and the shared downtime with their peers can improve team morale, mental health and personal fulfilment.
If employees feel that their well-being is valued highly and they can truly disconnect from work, they can return rejuvenated and refreshed. This isn’t just about individual productivity, though – it ripples through the entire team and company, thus cultivating a more positive and enthusiastic work environment.
Fostering Creativity and Innovation
CEOs are responsible for shaping the culture of their workforce, with their management and leadership approaches constantly ringing through the organisation. However, a change of scenery can unlock new avenues for creative thinking and problem-solving which, ultimately, complements their management and leadership styles.
Team holidays – particularly those that incorporate elements of exploration or new experiences – can inspire fresh ideas and perspectives that benefit the company, projects, or client relationships. A relaxed atmosphere can also lead to lightbulb moments that may never truly come to fruition in a traditional office environment. Leaders should be prepared to capture and build upon these breakthrough moments, championing their team’s innovation.
Practical Considerations for Team Holidays
Given the abundance of benefits team holidays can offer, it’s important to ensure that they are meticulously planed and prepare for. Here are some final tips for leaders to bear in mind:
Involve team members in the holiday planning process to ensure the destination and chosen activities appeal to a wide range of preferences and accommodate various needs.
While organised activities are important, maintaining schedule flexibility and enough time for personal relaxation is equally vital.
Establish clear guidelines about work expectations during the getaway. While some may encourage flexible and sporadic working, the goal should be to disconnect healthily and sufficiently to encourage greater relaxation.
After the getaway, give team members sufficient time and space to reflect on their experiences and gather their honest feedback to inform future getaways and improve the workplace dynamic.
A positive company culture is integral to an organisation’s success, and team holidays are pivotal and powerful solutions for business leaders looking to enhance this. CEOs undeniably have many priorities in their roles, but their people are arguably the most important asset. It’s important to not overlook their contributions and risk their well-being taking a hit.
As you consider the next team getaway, remember that the goal is not to provide a reprieve from work for your team, but to create meaningful experiences that enhance their ability to work together effectively after the excursion ends.
