# Our First Retreat

Our experience organizing a company retreat.

- **Author:** Patrick Heneise
- **Published:** 2018-06-13
- **Updated:** 2018-06-13
- **Tags:** travel, remote-working, retreat, cyprus, work-life-balance

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import Figure from '../../src/components/Figure.astro'

Working in a remote-first consultancy comes with many benefits, such as

- work from wherever you want 🏝
- work whenever you feel most productive 🦉
- no conference rooms 🤮

But after six months of working together, we thought it’s time to meet in person
and have a fun week together. This happened in Paphos, Cyprus, early June 2018.

### Planning a Retreat for 16 people from different countries

Planning a retreat for 16 people comes with it’s challenges; challenges which we
were happy to accept! Cyprus is set in it’s ways when it comes to renting
villas, and planning activities. Rarely can one make bookings online without
having to call someone (Ugh, so 90s!)

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*YCNg5vvMj-HYiInM3giyWw.jpeg"
  alt="JS Training"
  title="JS Training"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

We decided to invite significant others to the retreat because having a
work-life balance is important to us. We also wanted everyone to have an
opportunity to explore Cyprus with their loved ones, youngest of our new
‘family’ being a 9 month old baby. Some decided straight away to get a rental
car and explore in their free time, while others made extensive use of the pool
area. We’re happy everyone accepted the invitation and brought their partners.
Cyprus is famous for it’s sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and beautiful
villas. We wanted to have the entire party stay in one self catering villa to
promote sharing and bonding.

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*wuN8g74GMSEOZ4uoCOAm2w.jpeg"
  alt="Aerial image of the villa"
  title="Aerial image of the villa"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

Finding one villa with so many bedrooms was a real challenge though and it took
several weeks of emails and calls to finally get everything confirmed. And it
didn’t stop there. We wanted the location and villa to be a surprise so we
didn’t tell anyone where we’re staying. That was quite nerve-racking for us and
them until the last minute, but the surprise and excitement was totally worth
it! Also, since we hadn’t seen the location before in person, we didn’t
over/undersell the property. Once the accommodation was set, we also needed to
arrange transport (flights, busses etc.) for everyone to get to and from the
villa and schedule fun activities. We did this with a classic sheet, letting
everyone vote for activities beforehands. We also prepared a calendar for the
week in advance to set the expectations a little bit. Since this was a new
experience for everyone we kept our calendar open ended.

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*Gp-MmlC9iyNP_OIxmg7-aw.jpeg"
  alt="Bays near Aphrodite Trail, Akamas"
  title="Bays near Aphrodite Trail, Akamas"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

### Work, Life, Fun

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*wWlCsWJMyAckUgNbcI8YrA.jpeg"
  alt="Selfie-Time"
  title="Selfie-Time"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

We asked everyone of their expectations and wishes from the HC Retreat. For most
of us it was the first time being part of such an event and we needed to
synchronise and match expectations. We decided to split the week into 3 parts:
Work in the mornings, then lunch and free afternoons, with further events in the
evenings such as BBQs. Thursday we took the whole day for group activities (Jeep
Safari with Andreas) and Friday was free for everyone. This worked out great and
we got to discuss things we hadn’t got a chance to and everyone also got time to
relax or explore Cyprus. A perfect mix.

### Adventure

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*Xb9rGqEFcPhLBmpEpusjDA.jpeg"
  alt="Akamas Jeep Safari with EcoTours Adventures"
  title="Akamas Jeep Safari with EcoTours Adventures"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

By far the best day of the retreat we had with Andreas from
[Ecotour Adventures](http://www.ecotouradventures.com.cy). Andreas and Louis
picked us up early in the morning with two Land Rover Defender 4x4 cars and
drove us off-road through the protected area of Akamas, explaining a lot about
the flora, fauna, wildlife and history of Cyprus. Andreas and Louis both are
friendly, entertaining and informative! The tour also included home made Mama’s
Lemonade and Wine.

### Significant Other Track

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*CAJ8OZvII4ai3X-uav8V3Q.jpeg"
  alt="Rocky Bay"
  title="Rocky Bay"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

One of the challenges we faced was planning activities for significant others
and making clear separations of work time / meetings / lunches. Most of the
partners were quite flexible and happy to be lounging around the pool, which may
have interrupted our motivation to get things done.

We didn’t mark team-only events clearly enough and caused some confusion
especially when it came to lunch/dinner, since the partners didn’t know each
other and couldn’t arrange alternatives. So in the end we were together most of
the time, which wasn’t bad either. On our next retreat, a clear Significant
Other Track will be scheduled, to make sure everyone can work undisturbed for a
few hours and team-only events are for the team only (the time to have boring
discussions about the latest framework or library that came out).

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*33pDLD0w6z54BW0GVsYlWA.jpeg"
  alt="Selfie from the other perspective"
  title="Selfie from the other perspective"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

### Retreat for our clients

Of course these retreats are not exclusive to team members. One of our clients
decided to join us for a few days to stay with the team and have a short escape
from grey office walls. We had a few meetings in the pool, had dinner together
and discussed the critical parts of the project, next steps etc. No conference
room or whiteboard required.

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/cover-pool.jpeg"
  alt="Pool meetings by Zentered"
  title="Pool meetings by Zentered"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

## Summary

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*sJFjlwEbZSZfCNEkAPSWCA.jpeg"
  alt="Lara Bay from above"
  title="Lara Bay from above"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>

Beach. Pool. Crystal clear sea. A great villa. A week in sunny Cyprus. It’s hard
to get that wrong. We all had an amazing time and it was incredible to spend
time with everyone in such a setting. While it sounds tempting to just make the
villa an office and do this every day, the special part about this was the time
limitation. It wouldn’t be anything else than “going to the office”, if it would
be permanent. So we’re all going back to the office of our choice, be it a
co-working or a cafe near the beach. And look forward to the next retreat.

<Figure
  src="/images/articles/1*gSpbYf6t1CqsXGuuvviOHw.jpeg"
  alt="Drone group shot"
  title="Drone group shot"
  width="1024"
  height="768"
/>