It’s time to retire Two Truths and a Lie. Your team deserves more than another awkward icebreaker.
With teams spending more time working remotely, purposeful in-person retreats have become more important than ever. They create space for spontaneous conversation, meaningful collaboration, and stronger overall job satisfaction. When thoughtfully designed, retreats foster genuine connections between team members, improve ROI, and increase productivity. So skip the tired icebreakers and focus on shared experiences that matter. Here are five ways we like to break the ice during corporate retreats:
Take a hike. Hikes offer the opportunity for peaceful appreciation of nature and casual trail conversation. Take in the sights, talk about said sights, and who knows, maybe get to know something new about your teammates. We like this option because it gives individuals the opportunity to wander quietly or engage in conversation as they choose. There’s also nothing better to get thoughts percolating than a little movement!
Learn something together. Ever tried fly fishing? How about line dancing or learning how to lasso? Pick something that is suitable for all skill levels and get lost in an activity to quiet other thoughts and free up some creative thinking.
Volunteer. Sustainability and restoration are foundational to us at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, so we suggest cleaning up a local park or trail. Make sure you carve out time for a picnic lunch to refuel and chat. Not only will you leave feeling like you’ve done something positive and tangible, but you also might have formed some bonds while working side by side with team members you don’t collaborate with on a daily basis.
Play a team brain game. Get the wheels turning with a brain game—this one’s for you, trivia aficionados! Nothing brings a team together like a ticking clock and a fun challenge. Deciding on a team name is a task in and of itself—customize your trivia topics or use an online generator and watch those teams come together with the flip of a timer.
Do something creative. Try a simple meditative art project, create something tasty during a cooking class, or (in true Ranch fashion) try leather stamping. Hands-on activities keep participants engaged and are a great way to loosen up and get ideas flowing. Plus, it’s fascinating to see how each person puts their own twist on things. Maybe you’re just one creative activity away from a bold new idea.
While we hope you still get to learn those fun and quirky facts about your workmates, we hope these activities nudge you on a more authentic and adventurous trail to those discoveries.
Learn more about meetings and retreats at the Ranch here!