Sadie Eastwood的动态

In a remote-first world, it’s easy to feel like a team in name only. That’s why offsites matter more than ever. Last week, we got the whole team together in Austin for our quarterly offsite. The goal was simple → Promote alignment and connection among team members. Because when you work remotely, it’s easy to feel like you’re working next to each other, not with each other. Two dimensions don’t replace real conversations, shared meals, and those spontaneous moments that build trust. But it’s not just about hanging out. It’s about making sure we’re rowing in the same direction. We focused on: → Revisiting our 2025 goals and how we’ll achieve them. → Building trust, which is the foundation of any strong team. → Sharing progress so everyone understands how their work fits into the bigger picture. One thing I’ve learned is that people don’t stay engaged because of a paycheck or a title. They stay because they feel their work matters. They stay because they see progress. And offsites are our opportunity to reset, realign, and build momentum—together.

Still basking in the afterglow of having the whole company in town for offsites. We can debate ad nauseam about remote vs hybrid vs in-person, but here are?a few reflections I hold deeply to be true as I reintegrate my experience: ?? People are the single most important thing that determine whether companies succeed & fail. We say this a lot at gem. It's why our mission is to help companies build great teams. But I always live & feel this the most deeply in my core when I get to spend time in person with the whole team. ?? Getting together in-person is crucial for building culture, connection, and trust. Especially when some folks are remote. There's simply no substitute for face-to-face time. ?? For generative & creative work (brainstorms, offsites, etc.), there's something special about doing that in person, and seeing the ideas spark & fly. Folks chiming in without having to worry so much about coming off mute or awkwardly speaking over each other. ?? "Watercooler" moments are real. I learned 2 new things about our customers in just 2-3 minutes talking to an Enterprise AE and a CSM in the kitchen who were visiting from out of town. And the three of us feel closer for it. Gets me thinking about whether it's even possible to recreate this virtually somehow??? For now though, I'm just excited to continue getting the entire company together every quarter, because magic happens when we're all together in person. This was such a phenomenal week, and I couldn't be more grateful to Samuel Rhyan?, Grace Lancaster?, and?Lindsey Ackerman? and so many more for making it possible!?

Offsites aren’t just a day away - they’re a powerful opportunity. Done right, they give you a chance to: ? Get everyone on the same page about the big goals ? Boost energy and motivation ? Rethink how you collaborate To get the most out of your offsite, ask yourself these three key questions when planning your agenda: 1?? What’s the ONE thing we really need to accomplish? Make sure you know exactly why you're having the offsite. Is it to get aligned on strategy? Tackle a specific issue? Build trust within the team? Stick to one or two key goals - trying to do too much can turn into a messy day that feels all over the place instead of productive. 2?? How do we mix strategy with connection? Offsites shouldn’t just be back-to-back meetings. Include some fun and creativity, and plan some team-building activities. Balance structured sessions (like brainstorming and planning) with moments that help build personal bonds - people usually do better when they feel part of a tight-knit crew. 3?? What’s our game plan for after the offsite? You’ll probably come up with some great ideas, but if there’s no follow-up, they don’t mean much. Make sure to assign clear owners for every next step and set deadlines before the day wraps up. Keep everything organised in one place, like a shared Notion or Miro board, so you can track decisions and action items. Get these answers right, and your offsite becomes more than just a “nice day out" - it’s a springboard for real results. Need a game-changing offsite? We’re ready when you are ?? https://lnkd.in/eNW46_sm

Has the art of celebrating wins been lost in the post-lockdown workplace? ?? After leaving a big NewGen pitch the other week I was excited to lean into that unmatched post pitch high. Instead the team immediately jumped on their phones to check slack and stress about how much work had come in over the past hour. It left me feeling deflated and got me thinking about a much needed culture shift, that I feel can't be unique to our agency! Since the shift to hybrid and remote work, it's become so easy to let wins – big or small – slip by without celebration. Pre-pandemic, we'd pause for lunches together, coffee breaks, after-work drinks, or a quick team huddle to acknowledge the achievements that kept us motivated and connected. Now, with everyone running on churn mode, those moments feel like a luxury. The grind continues, one project after another, with little room to stop and reflect on what’s been achieved. Yes, we’re more productive, more independent and more flexible. But in this fast-paced new norm, celebrating ourselves and our teams shouldn't be forgotten. It’s the small wins that build momentum, foster connection, and remind us why we love what we do. So let’s take a moment to recognise the efforts – no matter how small – and bring back the joy of celebrating progress. ?? What win are you celebrating today? ? #OfficeCulture #WorkplaceWins #PostLockdownDynamics #EmployeeRecognition

Finally... a FUN offsite experience with real PURPOSE! An offsite is more than just a team building experience. It's a chance to gain much needed alignment and focus, with fun and team building included! That's what a Deliberate Leadership Offsites is perfect for. ?? Check in the comments below for the link! #offsites #leadershipoffsite #corporateretreat

A common pattern I see with offsites: mullets. All business in the front, mandatory fun in the back. So, what does that look like? Endless PowerPoint presentations, where you're talked at for hours, followed by a forced team-building activity in the afternoon or evening. Hands up if you’ve attended this offsite ???? The problem is that mandatory fun doesn’t create real connections, and without genuine connection, team performance suffers. In fact, research shows 65% of employees feel team-building activities don’t strengthen relationships. Why? Because true connection can’t be scheduled or forced (yes, those trust falls don't actually work). In my experience facilitating offsites for teams, the best offsites create space for meaningful dialogue, reflection, and shared moments. Here's what you can try instead: ? Blend the work and the fun – avoid siloing them. ? Replace "updates" with interactive, engaging sessions where everyone contributes. ? Create time for informal, unscheduled interactions. These often lead to the most authentic connections. ? Focus on shared challenges or opportunities – people connect through real work and problem-solving. ? Make room for reflection and open-ended conversations. Schedule time to connect as humans as part of your content – personality assessments, personal sharing, and group debriefs can lead to more self-awareness and understanding. When teams feel truly connected, they collaborate more effectively, communicate openly, and solve problems faster. A well-designed offsite builds stronger alignment and boosts team performance—without the cringey activities no one wants to do. And look, I know mullets are trendy right now, I'm not hating on them if that's your thing, I'm just advocating that they stay as a hair style and not design inspiration for your team gathering or offsite.

Big news, folks— Today, Daniel and I are officially launching Deliberate Offsites! This spring, we hit a milestone. We hosted our 50th deliberate offsite, And that got us thinking. What if we formalized what we’ve been doing all along? What if we took everything we’ve learned and turned it into something our corporate friends and clients could really sink their teeth into? So, that’s exactly what we did. Because here’s the thing— An offsite isn’t just about getting out of the office. It’s about getting outside to get ahead. It’s purpose-driven, focused on real outcomes, and designed to make sure the work actually gets done. We’re not talking about just another company retreat. We’re talking about stepping away from the everyday grind And diving into serious, goal-oriented work that moves the needle. Imagine your team, in a setting that energizes and inspires, Tackling complex challenges, fostering true collaboration, and driving innovation. Our offsites are built to deliver real, actionable results—no fluff, no filler. If you’re ready to take your team to the next level, Let’s make it happen. Your next offsite could be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for. Check out what we’ve been up to: https://lnkd.in/e4wEmvfV I’d love to hear what you think. And hey, whether you’re just considering an offsite, have a draft agenda, Or even have a full planning team in place—reach out. Let’s turn that next offsite into something purposeful.?

???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ????????’?? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?? Our team comes together regularly – whether it’s for OKRs, team-building events, or simply to celebrate milestones. These meetups aren’t just about ticking boxes; they’re about creating real, meaningful connections. Even though we’ve grown into a diverse, international team, that feeling of closeness and community is still the same. Why? Because work and personal life naturally blend together here. Friends, partners, and even family members of our team often pitch in—whether it’s modeling for photoshoots, doing the coat check at events, helping with the clean-up afterwards, or cheering us on during milestones—having that kind of personal involvement makes every moment even more special. That kind of involvement really shows how strong our culture is and makes me so proud of what we’ve built. But honestly, it wasn’t always this way. We had our own learning curve and realized how crucial that personal connection is. Since then, we’ve put a lot more emphasis on making sure new team members fit in both personally and professionally. That’s why, for example, Yianni does a final “Culture Call” during the hiring process to see if it’s a true match on a personal level. This approach has changed everything – turnover has dropped, and the way we work together feels so much more natural, with real cohesion. If this sounds like the kind of team you’d want to be part of, we’re looking to add someone new! We’re hiring for a Head of Sales & Revenue Management – someone who values culture as much as we do. Maybe that’s you? Check out the open role below! ?? https://lnkd.in/eadnUumK #Culture #Team #Leadership

?????????????? ?????????????? ????????????????????????: ?? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? Two weeks have passed since our bi-annual company offsite. This time, we spent an incredible week in Mallorca and I'm still amazed. It was an event that did not only leave us with lasting memories, but also helped us strengthen our special company culture once more. For sure the stunning location ?? provided the perfect backdrop for our team members to connect. But in the end it’s the thoughtful design that is key to impactful offsites. Here are some key takeaways from our autumn offsite: 1?? Prioritize personal connections:? Instead of allocating time to work on projects (which we do remotely very well) we dedicated a lot of time to foster deeper bonds among team members. While structured team activities are great, dedicated time for socializing and in-depth non-work related discussions is equally important. These unstructured moments during meals, poolside gatherings and beach outings helped deepen connections. 2?? Encourage team-led sessions:? Empower team members to co-create their own sessions on topics they're passionate about, whether it's work-related or personal. This is a great way to showcase individual interests and connect with colleagues who share similar passions. 3?? Embrace the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO):? Offer a variety of activities, but also encourage team members to follow their own flow.?This flexibility allows individuals to use some time to recharge and enjoy some personal time in between activities. Big Kudos to Andrea Strohmayr, from Culture By Design, who helped us shape this event and experience. ?? We fully achieved our goal of deepening team connections, and I'm really looking forward to our next offsite already. What is your experience with designing team or company offsites??

"The one thing that helps us is we have a common goal and we understand it collectively very well." ???? While working remotely has allowed us to recruit and collaborate with the best in the industry, meeting face-to-face at our yearly offsites adds a whole new dimension to our team bond. Offsites are more than just in-person meetings. They provide a unique opportunity to strengthen our team bonds, align everyone towards our common goals, and deeply engage with the values that drive our business. During these meetings, we get to know each other beyond the screen, sharing moments that help us understand how each team member excels in their role. These meetups give us an extra boost. They help us share ideas, collaborate better, and come back feeling more united and motivated. Our offsites allow us to collectively innovate, collaborate, and reinforce the core values that define us as a company. They are key to building a cohesive, motivated, and forward-thinking team. Here's a peek at some team-building during our recent meetup in Miami team-building day ????