The Importance of Company Retreats for Fully Distributed Teams
For fully distributed teams like ours, in-person meetups are more than just a nice-to-have—they're fundamental.
Recent research highlights the importance of occasional face-to-face interactions for remote teams. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, in-person meetings help build trust, improve communication, and foster a sense of belonging among team members.
Another report by Buffer states that 21% of remote workers feel loneliness as their biggest struggle, emphasising the need for personal connections.
These retreats allow us to bridge the gap, ensuring our team remains cohesive and motivated as we grow. And we grow. Fast!
What the Speckle Teams Achieved
All-hands meetings and workshops have been a Speckle tradition since the start, with the former occurring every two weeks and the latter pretty much all the time. But the Prague retreat allowed us to kick start new initiatives without distractions, pings, or rings.
Here's what each team worked on:
- Connectors Team: Made significant progress on Speckle’s new desktop UI, pushing this critical project forward with hard-core teamwork.
- Growth Team: Brainstormed and launched key initiatives including NPS strategies, event swag and merchandise planning, and re-engagement campaigns to strengthen our community engagement.
- Web Team: Enhanced the new web app's features. Their dedication culminated in the successful launch of the new web app post-retreat! Check out the new web app here!
- HR Team: Concentrated on even harder core hiring efforts! Along with Alona joining the team, we've had ten more new joiners, marking a period of substantial Speckle growth and talent acquisition!
“Being a small company, we at Speckle realise that each and every hire is critical. New team members significantly impact our trajectory and help us to turn vision into reality. So we bring A-players on board: a challenging yet rewarding strategy that requires a lot of meticulous and dedicated effort from the whole team. Lucky us - Speckle is built by passionate and highly invested individuals who understand the value of a good hiring process and advocate for the best candidate experience”, says Alona Osadchuk, Speckle's Talent & People Lead.
Why Prague?
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a city rich in history and culture, making it the perfect backdrop for the retreat of a bunch of architects and engineers.
From the jaw-dropping Gothic Charles Bridge to the Baroque wonderfulness of St. Nicholas Church, Prague offered a true feast for the Specklers’ eyes.
Prague is also renowned for its vibrant nightlife and culinary delights (and beer). From traditional Czech dishes like beef goulash and Svíčková to modern dining experiences, the city caters to all tastes (especially if you like beer).
Its lively beer gardens (we really like beer) and cosy cafés provided ideal settings for us to unwind and bond after workshopping days.
Speckle's Seventh Retreat: Already In The Works
We believe in the power of AEC technological innovation, but what’s equally important for our team is: stepping away from our screens.
Prague provided the perfect mix of productivity and play, strengthening our team and setting up our fully distributed team for an equal chance of success as any office-based team.
We're excited about our progress and can't wait to see what the future holds for this AEC-changing bunch!
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Until the next adventure, check out stories from our previous retreats:
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