purposeful team retreats

Specially tailored programs for your team to take a step back, focus on what really matters, and build connection and trust.

Every retreat is different because every team is different. Combining structured conversations, activities to build trust and connection, and learning, we design engaging activities and discussions to help teams develop and sustain teamwork over the long term.

Stronger team

Through a HappyTeams team building process, your team can:

Be aligned on team goals, vision, and action plan

Appreciate each other's strengths and contributions

Address conflicts in a safe environment

Evaluate and improve existing work practices

Collaborate effectively across different functions and issue areas

example 1: breaking silos

The session: A 2-day retreat for 30 staff of an international organization

Issue: Because the team was fragmented, with each person handling different aspects of the organization's work, there was a lack of understanding of each other's work. They needed to explore possible synergies.

Method: After activities to get to know each other, they did a "show and tell" of their work, in relation to the organization's wider goals. They created a Team Interdependence Chart, which identified high-priority areas for collaboration. They ended with a creative activity to explore metaphors for their organization and stakeholder relationships.

Result: They had a better understanding of how their work fits in the wider organization, as well as possibilities for collaboration.

example 2: clarifying team roles

The session: A 2-day retreat for the management team of a company that works remotely

Issue: The company was in a transition from being a founder-centric startup to a more mature company. The management team had never met in person and was having difficulty connecting with each other. They had been reluctant to address issues and underlying conflicts.

Method: They shared stories about the important events in their lives and personal passions. Then, using results from the Belbin Team Roles assessment tool, they examined their strengths and weaknesses, and considered how the team could combine their strengths most effectively.

Result: They were able to have a frank discussion about the management team's strengths and gaps in team roles. They came up with an action plan, and more importantly, developed a sense of trust and connection with each other.

example 3: Rejuvenating purpose

The session: A 1.5-day retreat for a 30-member citizens' commission

Issue: The group had been suffering from complacency and a lack of focus, after a series of disappointing events. They needed to regain their motivation and find a new way forward.

Method: They conducted a Historical Scan of the commission's activities, a retrospective of significant events in the community and wider trends in the country. As a group, they shared stories of important turning points in the past and renewed their commitment to their purpose.

Result: The commission made a decision to restructure their organization to better focus their efforts on their original mission.