Retreat and recharge.

• Author: Humphrey, Corinne
• Position: Executive Life - Company retreats may boost morale and change routines - Brief Article

Company retreats boost enthusiasm

You've heard the adage: a change is as good as a rest. For tired corporate routines and lagging employee morale, a retreat can be better than a rest; it can be a chance to charge the company batteries. Adventure-based corporate retreats utilize exercises like high-ropes courses and compass orienteering to encourage teamwork and communication. Rugged, natural settings allow for physical and mental activities that stretch people beyond their comfort zones and force them to depend on the varied skills of their co-workers.

In some firms, especially those with complicated hierarchal layers, work patterns and problem-solving techniques can become stale and ineffective. Wasatch Adventure Consultant's Bob Donaldson claims, "We're the guys who light people's hair on fire..." by offering unique outdoor adventures that lend themselves to fresh interactive participation. "When we mix groups and combine them into teams for tepee building or alpine discovery compass and map orienteering, there's a cross-pollination of ideas," he says. "We inject emotion into learning -- people can't wait to get back to the office to try out what they've learned."

One Wasatch Adventure workshop participant, Dirk Beal of Deer Valley Resort, enthuses "We left with an even higher level of respect for each other's abilities and attitudes. I was amazed at the cohesiveness of our team and the individual talents. Mutual respect has increased as a result of doing this program.

According to Tim Walther, executive director of Grand Dynamics Corporate Training & Development in Jackson, Wyoming, "Corporate retreats revitalize growth processes, open lines of communication and help employees maximize their potential through 'experiential learning,' a hands-on problem solving method that broadens minds and actively engages participants in the learning process." Employees learn to respect the contributions of co-workers. "Teambuilding exercises level the playing field, eliminating the intimidation factor, or deferential attitudes caused by corner offices and expensive Italian suits," adds Walther.

The priority at the National Ability Center in Park City is teambuilding and developing leadership skills through a series of customized initiatives including universal challenge courses, high-ropes courses and experiential learning concepts designed to reflect real-life situations. Stacia Smith, outreach director for the center, explains, "Our mission is to...