We know, we know: meetings are inevitable, and they’re not always exciting. Done well, though, meetings can boost morale, improve employee collaboration, and help your team get more done. To get the most out of meetings, it’s sometimes beneficial to take them off-site.
Here are five benefits to leveling up your next corporate meeting by taking it off-site:
#1: Spark creativity
Sometimes, a fresh and inspirational location is the secret sauce. A new environment can open up communication and the right setting can enhance your team’s perception, attention, and results. Outside the office—and their normal routines—your team may be able to contribute more.
#2: Unite the team
A new setting can bring a team together in new ways. Consider team-building activities or a built-in reception or meal, both of which can encourage your employees to connect in new ways. When your team has the chance to create a little more social glue, the everyday can be more enjoyable—and productive.
#3: Improve communication
It’s true: the same setting, day after day, can mean your team is operating on auto-pilot, whether its members intend to or not. Bring your team together in a new space—and break the reliance on technology, even for a day—to encourage face-to-face communication. After all, only 10% of communication is words! Thirty-five percent is tone and 55%—more than half—is body language. Imagine how an off-site meeting could enhance your typical workday.
#4: Focus on goals
Let’s face it: humans can be territorial. Bringing the team together in a new (and neutral) space can help everyone focus on company goals. Whether it’s for a leadership retreat, a teambuilding exercise, or a strategy session, an off-site meeting can help employees really focus without the distractions of the office.
#5: Show appreciation
A well-organized and thoughtful off-site meeting can go a long way toward communicating your appreciation for the team. An elegant space, delicious catering choices, icebreaker activities, and chances to mingle all give your team a memorable experience—instead of a regular meeting. Bringing everyone together, too, helps create a culture of inclusivity and connection.
The next time you’re planning a corporate meeting, consider these five benefits. Choose wisely, too, when planning: Hosting a corporate meeting at the Medinah Shrine Center gives you access to a stunning space, with flexibility for smaller groups as well as gatherings of up to 600.
At Medinah Shrine Center, we offer corporate catering menus for elegant, seated meals, buffet dining, and more. With breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, ours is a recipe for success in your next corporate meeting.
We host all kinds of corporate meetings and events, including:
- Annual meetings
- Board meetings
- Conference or association meetings
- Employee recognition dinners
- Fundraisers or charity events
- Holiday parties
- Management or teambuilding retreats
- Networking events
- Presentations or seminars
- Receptions or retirement parties
- Sales meetings
Since 1959, Catering with Elegance has combined beautiful venues, mouthwatering food, and top-notch service to transform events into treasured memories. We offer full-service catering and event management at two beautiful west suburban locations as well as off-site service for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events.