Ensuring Value through ROI
We often get asked about return on investment for our programmes, Away Days included.
Anything you spend in your business needs to offer a return, whether it’s stock, services or people development. The investment in Away Days is multi-faceted, and there is often a cost and consequence of not doing them.
If you don’t invest in these days with your senior leaders, you are adding risk to your organisation too, by possibly not delivering on a strategy, not having a cohesive plan, and not building a robust collaborative working environment.
There are a number of key metrics you can consider when weighing up the benefits of hosting an away Day (or days). Some are quantifiable both before the event and some after, and some are less tangible.
Quantifiable Return on Investment (ROI)
Increased Productivity:
Research from the Harvard Business Review indicates a potential 26% increase in productivity among employees following offsite retreat and away days. Other data suggests teams can see 20-25% productivity gains.
Reduced Employee Turnover (Retention):
Employees who feel valued and connected are more likely to stay, directly reducing the significant costs associated with recruitment and training new staff. Companies with regular team activities report up to 50% lower staff turnover rates.
Faster Project Completion and Error Reduction:
Improved communication and collaboration can lead to 15-30% fewer project mistakes and up to 25% faster project completion rates.
Revenue Growth:
High-performing teams that engage in such activities have shown up to 27% higher revenue per employee.
Cost Savings:
Enhanced process efficiency and better communication can result in operational cost reductions.
Intangible Return on Investment
Two other commercial metrics which add sway to your decision will be Return on Experience (ROE) and Value on Investment (VOI).
Many critical outcomes of Away Days are not immediately financial but are vital for organisational health and can be linked to financial performance over time.
These benefits all contribute to a “Return on Experience” (ROE) or “Value on Investment” (VOI):
Stronger Team Cohesion and Trust:
The relaxed, informal setting allows for deeper personal connections, building trust and a psychologically safe environment crucial for open feedback and innovation. Trust can lead to 50% more productivity.
Enhanced Morale and Engagement:
Away days boost job satisfaction, motivation, and loyalty, which are proven drivers of productivity and profitability.
Stimulated Creativity and Innovation:
A change of scenery provides the necessary mental “headspace” for fresh perspectives and innovative problem-solving, which can lead to new product ideas and solutions.
Better Communication and Alignment:
Face-to-face interaction is significantly more effective than virtual, helping break down departmental silos and ensuring the entire leadership team is aligned on strategic goals.
Improved Employee Well-being:
Providing time for relaxation and rejuvenation reduces stress and burnout, leading to 74% less stress and 13% fewer sick days in high-trust organisations.
Summary – Value over Cost
Whilst the investment can be significant, professional facilitation provides immense value.
The contribution and support from Think Organisation brings an objective, external perspective and the expertise to navigate difficult conversations, ensure all voices are heard, and guide the team toward concrete, actionable outcomes. This prevents time-wasting and helps the organisation realise a strong return on investment (ROI) for the Away Days.
If you want to talk about how we can help deliver multiple benefits through our facilitated Away Days, drop a message to steph@thinkorganisation.com to arrange a call.
Read More about Away Days
You can find out more about Think Organisation facilitated Away Days here : Away Days
There’s more about Strategic Alignment in this Think Organisation Post: Away Days for Strategic Alignment
