How to organise an inspiring and successful away day?
Increasingly, the term strategy session is being used when it comes to business meetings. Many companies and organisations hold such a session one or more times a year. But what exactly is a strategy session and how do you make it a success? In this blog, we are happy to give you more insight into the possibilities in this area.
What is a strategy retreat?
Simply put, a strategy retreat is a gathering at an external, often remote location. A strategy retreat does not actually have to be on a heath, but rather in a ‘low-stimulus’ environment. Originally, a strategy retreat was a time when the management team came together at a place other than the standard workplace. By now, the term strategy retreat is a widely established concept and companies and organisations use it across all departments.
How do I choose a suitable location?
Every strategy session is different and therefore there are many possibilities when it comes to locations, both just across the border and in our own country. The most important thing when choosing a location is to pick an external venue. In addition, it is important that it is an inspiring environment, preferably different from where people normally work and where you are free from distractions.
Some examples of suitable locations in the Netherlands are:
Beukenrode Hunting Lodge in Doorn, Utrecht
A listed national monument, rurally and centrally located in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, featuring a 26-hectare estate with ponds where you can hold extraordinary and inspiring meetings.
De Kapellerput in Heeze, North Brabant
A unique location on a 25-hectare estate with a diversity of meeting facilities. From a meeting spot in the middle of the forest to a special KABAN treehouse where you sit at a great height in the middle of nature with all the comfort and luxury of a workspace.
Bilderberg Kasteel Vaalsbroek in Vaals, Limburg
Abroad in your own country, that is how it feels at this location. Meeting amidst the abundant greenery, the space and a beautiful park.
Mooirivier in Dalfsen, Overijssel
An atmospheric boutique hotel, consisting of buildings in a traditional architectural style with modern interior design. The hotel is situated right on the River Vecht and is surrounded by abundant nature, making it suitable for inspiring strategic off-sites.
How does a strategy session run?
Ensure in advance that all participants are well informed about the purpose of this day or session. Share the agenda in good time and make sure it is clear what is expected of the participants, and how they should prepare themselves when, for example, they are to speak during the session. To keep participants energetic and engaged, it is advisable to schedule breaks in good time. After all, nobody remains productive after hours of speaking or listening continuously.
Furthermore, it is also an option to bring in an external person, who will ensure that the day runs smoothly and flawlessly. This person will arrange a structured day and keep an eye on things to ensure everything goes according to the schedule.
What can I expect at the end of a strategy session?
The goal at the end of a successful offsite is that understanding and trust among the participants have improved. One way to achieve this is to communicate as openly as possible with each other during the session in a trusted environment. Another outcome is often that patterns within the team become clear. Depending on their desirability, these patterns can be reinforced or broken. Finally, participants become more aware of their own talents and know how to deploy them more effectively.
Also, the strategy session can be used to make new plans together or present a new strategy and discuss this with one another. Always ensure that the new input and ideas are properly documented.
Why book via goMICE?
Of course, you can book a strategy session yourself at one of the many venues in our beautiful country. So why book through an agency, and specifically with goMICE? At goMICE, we have years of experience in-house, meaning that not only do we have knowledge of the most suitable locations for your strategy session, but we can also assist with the entire organisation of this day or days.
With our creativity, we ensure that even the most ‘experienced’ participants in strategy retreats are surprised by, for example, the deployment of professional conference chairs, interludes of entertainment and/or bespoke workshops or teambuilding activities.
In addition, with goMICE you are not only assigned a single dedicated project manager from start to finish, but this project manager will (if desired) also be present during the event itself to ensure everything runs smoothly on-site.
Stimulate beforehand and safeguard valuable information
It may also be desirable to share information in advance or to obtain input that is important for the success of this session. Or it may be important to warm up the participants in the run-up to this day or days. With the goMICE Stretch method, we ensure that your objectives are achieved even better through the use of a well-considered communication campaign before, during, and also after your offsite session. Because the information you collect is often very valuable for your organisation and any strategic choices. We ensure that this information is not lost and remains top of mind for a longer period through the use of extra touch moments.
Curious about the best way to approach your strategy session, or do you have a question about another type of event? Please feel free to contact us to schedule a no-obligation brainstorming session!
Update: This blog first appeared on 22 March 2021 and was updated with new information on 28 March 2022.