Chat with Cat: Enriching employees (and communities) through retreats

What would you like to get out of your employees that you are not seeing already? Do you wish you could have just a couple more hours with them, time to reignite the passions that they had when they started at your business?

You might find the answer during your next meeting.

A few months ago, not long after the fallout of AIG's controversial company outing, some companies were cancelling their off-site meetings, worried about bad press or struggling budgets. But as it turns out, meetings can actually be a step toward healthier workplaces and more vibrant communities.

TBA Global, a large national marketing company, published a white paper--"The Value of Meetings"--based on their research regarding the positive impact of responsible company events. Although the paper focuses mainly on larger corporate events, many of the points made translate well to small businesses and even nonprofits.

The group's studies revealed that 69% of people (here being American adults, 18+) believe that companies should invest more in community projects. Well guess what! Offsite meetings strengthen local communities by providing business to venues and vendors, who then in turn patronize other local businesses. And if that's not enough of an investment, you can always incorporate some service into your meeting. Some things, like collecting donations, doesn't even take time out of your event.

The paper also mentions the benefits of meetings on the most important people in your operation--your employees and coworkers. TBA Global refers to surveys showing that those companies with higher employee engagement have better growth ratings than those without. Employees themselves attribute improved communication to higher productivity and motivation. Read the full white paper here, and let me know what you think.

What could you and your coworkers accomplish with a day out of the office? How could an office retreat enrich your workplace and your community?

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience and would love to hear from you about how this blog can help you.

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org.