Our Denver Retreat
In mid-April, we had the pleasure of gathering almost our entire team in Denver, Colorado for our annual all-staff retreat. Our primary objectives were to connect in person, reflect on the past year's achievements, and strategically plan for the upcoming year and beyond.
Our accommodations for the retreat were nothing short of fantastic. We stayed in a spacious and luxurious home near a horse ranch in Indian Hills, which provided us with the perfect backdrop for relaxation and focus. On our first day, we took the opportunity to get to know each other better and unwind.
The team at Meow Wolf
Day 2 was an intensive morning workshop where we assessed our standard operating procedures (SOPs), formalized our goal structure, and reviewed our financial progress for the year. Later in the day, we explored the surreal world of Denver's Meow Wolf art installation, which was an immersive and engaging experience.
On the following day, we reconvened for a half-day workshop, where we discussed and defined our team values for the first time. We recognized that values are the driving force behind everything we do, including client selection, work motivation, and team cohesion. After a thoughtful and insightful discussion, we unanimously agreed on three core values:
Authenticity - being genuine, honest, and open,
Integrity - following through on our commitments with precision,
Respect - treating each other and our clients with the same kindness and respect we would want for ourselves.
Jeremy leading our brainstorming meeting
During the retreat, we also took the opportunity to do a Clifton Strengths evaluation, which helped us better understand each other's strengths and skill sets. We identified that most of our team excels in the executing and strategizing categories, which bodes well for our future growth plans. We also discussed where we see the company heading, the challenges we may encounter, and the excitement that comes with growth.
Our elk friends
The previous night had brought about a snowstorm which only added to the experience as we were surrounded by a herd of elk while staying in for the afternoon and evening. Chris, our talented Sales Manager AND (now known to us) chef, even made us some mouth-watering steaks. We ended the night with some friendly board games, which provided the perfect end to a productive and engaging retreat.
On Sunday morning, we bid each other farewell and left the beautiful city of Denver, feeling grateful for our amazing clients and the work-life balance that our job encourages. The retreat was a resounding success, and we look forward to future opportunities to connect and grow together as a team.