talkshop

1. Always have a Welcome Ceremony and Event Flag For some reason, staff always dig this kind of ra-ra performance. We must have team leaders, leader badges, team flags, slogans and most of all…. An opening speech! To remind ourselves to forget ranks, grudges and even gender, just for this 2D1N retreat. All in Mandarin…

2. Make sure transport is fully planned ahead “上有天堂，下有苏杭” A great injustice it would be, if our destination trip was not either in Suzhou or Hangzhou. Nevertheless. The sane choice would be the latter for its convenience from Sheshan. Transport is a killer, all parking places are extremely costly. On weekends, the roads are jammed packed with vehicles wanting a glimpse of West lake. Watch out for the mountaineous roads, big buses hate that kind of action, it will be a time-consuming ride for them up those hills.

3. Travelling by foot is one of the many options West lake provides many options and locations for a retreat. Walking is an option but there is also paddling boats, bicycles and cab.. The West lake rental bikes are interesting, they come with proper suspension systems, making the ride smooth and fun for everyone. Boat rides, paddling boats are available and also be used to reach the inner islands of the lake. Watch out for the occasional storm warning, all water transports will be suspended at the slightest notice.

4. Do not, ever, do a seminar style retreat Self explanatory..

5. Organizers must never look shagged out Despite all the fire fighting, last minute arrangements, finance issues, AWOL personnel and non-stop fitness testing activities, it is always important to keep a positive and fun-loving outlook for your participants.

6. Never do outdoor events in the Summer unless that’s the whole point The summer is indeed a difficult environment to work with, mountain climbing is a killer in this heat. Keep your men and women sufficiently hydrated at all times. Heat stroke is a delicate situation to deal with in the midst of anything. And then there is Tip 8..

7. Always celebrate victories, big or small The key point of having a successful retreat is to bring a group of strangers together and have them become friends at the end of the day. With daily operations being important in our line of work, it is a great opportunity for key personnel to interact, forget past grudges and get to know one another in a level beyond work.

8. Torture is always a fun element in games and activities Never miss any chance to let people laugh at themselves or go through terrible situations. After all, without the blood and sweat, how can people appreciate the good times? People deserve a chance to bring the best out of themselves, voluntarily or.. Involuntarily.