According to our clients, away days are still very much a useful and enjoyable way of encouraging a team to bond and work together even better than before! But let’s take a look at the background of away days, the reasons to have them, and what you need to consider when booking one.
When did team building away days start?
Some sources think as early as the 1920s and 1930s, and the Hawthorne studies in the US which explored ways of improving employee productivity. In the final analysis, the study concluded that building a sense of group identity, social support and cohesion through increased worker interaction that made the most difference.
The 1960s saw the introduction of ‘TQM’ (total quality management) which encourage employee commitment through the provision of training, acknowledgment of employee contributions and an environment that allowed employees to share opinions and take risks.
In the 1990s the first team-building concept that we’re familiar with today began emerging, particularly personality-led team building. This led, in the 2000s, to the idea that taking a team away from the office for activity based days out. Mind you, it was happening in non-corporate organizations for many years before, anyone who was a Girl Guide or Scout may remember activity days at places like Foxlease in Hampshire!
So what’s the purpose of an away day, is it just a jolly, or is there more to it?
Perhaps more than ever now, after the impact of the pandemic, remote working and now hybrid working, creating a team spirit can be something of a challenge. Even those that work together day in day out may not have the opportunity to bond.
An away day allows people to connect better and work together for a common goal. By breaking the routine it gives space for personalities to emerge and creativity to come to the fore.
Team building can actually improve cognitive function – we’ve written a blog that looks at this element in particular, so please do take a moment to read it here.
And to be fair, holding an away day as a reward also has lots to recommend it. Thanking your employees by giving them a fun day of activities from obstacle courses and go karting to throwing axes at the boss will always be appreciated.
What are the challenges of holding an away day?
In the current economic climate, there are cost implications to consider. This depends on which venue you opt for, the activities you choose, and how many employees you have.
So do your research and make sure you get the best value for money. For example, look at the food options and the price per head. You may find a picnic lunch or BBQ is a better option than a sit down meal. Does the venue have the activities available on site, or will they have to bring them in?
Another consideration is the location. If you have employees scattered around, you’ll need a venue that is easily accessed and has plenty of free parking. Where possible, encourage employees to car-share or use public transport if this is available.
You may well find that some employees really don’t want to take part, due to logistics such as school runs, or simply because it’s not their bag. Attending an away day really shouldn’t be compulsory, as you may well find it breeds resentment! But give lots of encouragement and reasons why attendance would be a positive thing and help with any logistics where you can.
What Escot’s clients say
This recent testimonial from Exeter Medical School is a great example of how successful an away day at Escot can be:
“To simply say thank you does not seem enough for what was an absolutely brilliant away day yesterday – everything was superb, and the team had such a great day. Thank you to Sarah for convincing/persuading us we could all paint, and we are very excited to get our finished artwork on the wall here (I will send you a photo when done), and for also ensuring everything ran so smoothly. Please also pass on our thanks to Lauren and the Segway Team for our afternoon fun, which was very much enjoyed.
The food deserves a special mention (again!) and massive thanks to Lynsey for keeping us well fed and hydrated – we knew it was going to be a good day when the fresh breakfast muffins came out! And the cakes and lunch during the day were excellent.
Back to the daily ‘normal’ in the office today, but everyone is still buzzing from yesterday and we will remember our day at Escot for a long while I am sure, and for all the good reasons!”
