Leaving office behind makes it better

As bureaucracy and distractions threaten to calcify so many aspects of American life, including the best-intentioned businesses, taking time away from the office becomes not a luxury, but a necessity, to restoring an enterprise’s equilibrium. But don’t take my word for it.
In the Providence metro area, the increase in hotel rooms has been accompanied by growth in the number of meetings and guests. According to one hotel executive, occupancy at his facility in July was 20 percent greater than the same period last year. And the city’s success is not just a local phenomenon.
By the end of this year, it is estimated that the groups and meetings market will grow to $175 billion, with individual corporations spending an average of about $500,000 on off-site meetings.
Corporations see great value in breaking out of the daily grind, something that allows employees and managers an opportunity to think of new approaches to problems. Not every company can hire high-priced consultants to take a look at their business with fresh eyes. But off-site meetings afford an enterprise the opportunity to freshen up its existing eyes.
Beyond getting more creative problem-solving out of an off-site meeting, leaving the office behind, even if just for a day, also makes teaching and team building a much simpler process. You have the employees’ undivided attention when you completely control the environment away from the office, and you can craft the message to be most effective.
Of course, one wouldn’t want to forget that getting out of the office also can create opportunities to reward employees for work well done, or just to let off steam. And with activities such as sailboat racing in Newport, companies can combine some clean, competitive fun with team building.
But as I said, don’t take my word for it. Investigate the options and make a meeting happen. You may be surprised at the outcome. •