How to Choose the Right Away Day for a High-Performing Team
High-performing teams donโt usually struggle with motivation. Theyโre busy. Capable. Used to delivering. What they often lack isnโt drive. Itโs space. Space to step out of the day-to-day. Space to reconnect as people, not just roles. Space to reset how they work together.
Thatโs why away days and facilitated team afternoons matter. But they only work when theyโre chosen and designed with intention.
When Away Days Donโt Quite Land
Many teams tell us the same thing after an away day: โIt was a nice dayโฆ but nothing really changed.โ Often, thatโs not because the activity was wrong, because the choice was convenient rather than considered.
Itโs easy to default to familiar team activities. Theyโre quick to explain, easy to book, and they promise energy and engagement. For high-performing teams, those experiences can reinforce existing dynamics rather than shift them.
Confident voices stay confident. Quieter team members stay quiet. The focus is on speed, winning or performance. Not reflection or connection. Enjoyable, yes.
Transformational, not always.
What Intentional Workshops Do Differently
On a recent facilitated away day with a distributed team, something subtle but powerful happened. As people worked side-by-side on a hands-on creative activity:
- Newer team members began contributing more freely
- Conversations flowed naturally across roles and seniority
- Barriers softened because everyone was learning something new together
The activity wasnโt competitive. There was no winner. Instead, there was shared focus.
That shared focus created a neutral space. One where people felt comfortable speaking up, asking questions and connecting as people rather than job titles. The making wasnโt the point. The conversations were.
Three Practical Tips For Choosing the Right Workshop
- Start with the outcome, not the activity. Ask what you want people to feel after the day and what should be easier back at work.
- Avoid formats that rely on competition. Competitive formats can amplify existing hierarchies. Shared-focus workshops encourage collaboration.
- Build in time to slow down and reflect. The value of an away day comes from what people notice, not how much you pack in.
Why Choice Matters For High-Performing Teams
High-performing teams donโt want novelty for noveltyโs sake. If youโre taking them out of the business, they want the experience to feel thoughtful, intentional and worth their time.
Intentional creative workshops remove competition, slow the pace and create conditions where quieter voices feel safe to contribute.
For some teams, a creative workshop is a one-off pause. For others, it becomes something they return to. Both approaches are valid. What matters is that the choice is made with purpose, not convenience.
If youโre planning an away day or facilitated team afternoon and want it to do more than fill a diary slot, download the Creative Workshops brochure.
Or book a short discovery call if youโd like help choosing the right format for your team.
