Retreat to the Woods. En Masse
Startup teams
consistently work extended hours, stay glued to their email around the clock,
and consider taking a vacation to be a betrayal of massive proportions. As CEOs,
it falls on us to encourage our employees to make sure our teams get a little
rest and relaxation — it's just smart business. That’s why my favorite summer
office policy is to get my entire team out of the office and into the
woods.
Not only
does a little time in nature jumpstart the creative process, it provides the
opportunity to solve new kinds of problems as a team. The change in scenery
helps boost our productivity and strengthen our culture — plus, it's a whole lot
of fun. Here are my tips for making it happen:1. Take your people on a trip.
At TaskRabbit, we have an annual camping trip for our team. This approach guarantees that people take a break from the office and lets us learn new ways to work together — like taking on white water rapids.
2. Create a contingent talent program.
Have a company policy on hiring temporary help, including a budget line item for each department. This makes it easy for HR and department heads to easily find and fund vacation fill-ins for your staff through TaskRabbit for Business. We always hire TaskRabbits to work the phones while we’re gone.
3. Let your team make the plan.
Each quarter, we plan events large (like the camping trip) and small (like a trek down to AT&T Park to watch the Giants win), and we each take a turn on the events committee. Giving your team the opportunity to plan your trip is a reliable way to make sure it’s a trip they want to take.
4. Remember, it’s all about the culture.
I’ve witnessed first-hand the impact of our camping adventures on our company’s day-to-day. It’s pretty incredible. All the bonding moments — navigating a tough rapid, building a campfire, or joining hands for an impromptu game of Red Rover — strengthen our team and reinforce our culture.
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