Lucidica Strategy Away Day 2023
Lucidica Team
Lucidica’s Annual Strategy Away Day (SAD) isn’t just another day on the calendar. It’s a tradition, a ritual, and most importantly, a key tool for our business growth. Having held this special event many times in the past, each year it has grown to become an integral part of our company’s ethos. Located strategically outside of London, it’s a day where our entire team gathers for an overnight stay, stepping away from the usual work environment, phones, and emails.
Why SAD Is So Crucial For Lucidica
For businesses aiming to achieve growth and harbour ambition, the Strategy Away Day serves multiple purposes. At Lucidica, we’ve found it to be:
A Time for Reflection and Forecasting: The team gets the chance to look back at the year’s accomplishments and discuss future plans. It’s also an opportunity to set goals, not just for the company but for individuals as well.
Building Strong Relationships: Though we operate in an open-plan office and are a close-knit team, there’s something unique about spending quality time away from work. It solidifies our bonds, allowing us to work more efficiently during challenging times.
Transparency and Open Discussions: Our SAD provides an open platform where company finances, growth plans, and targets are shared. It’s a transparent approach that not only keeps everyone informed but also helps get everyone on board with the company’s vision.
Training, Learning, and Fun: Beyond the serious business discussions, the day is also packed with fun activities, icebreakers, and unique presentations. From playful trading games with inflatable monkeys to heartfelt presentations highlighting individual achievements, there’s never a dull moment.
Key Components of Our Strategy-Away Day
1. Location: A suitable location within an hour from central London ensures everyone can join. While places like Brighton, Sofia, Birmingham, or Northampton have been our past destinations, the primary goal is to ensure they’re convenient and conducive to the day’s activities.
This year, we’ve been in Brussels, Belgium, for SAD 2023!
We began our adventure to Brussels on Friday night by getting onto the train. We wanted to arrive a day early so that we could be well rested for the next day’s (Saturday) presentations, goal-setting, and fun activities. We also needed to ensure that the conference room and internet connection were ready because, as is traditional, we would be spending the first 8 hours with the Kyiv team!
2. What was on our agenda:
- Icebreakers: Initiatives like team games during the commute set a light-hearted mood.
- Management Presentations: From discussing the past year’s achievements to outlining future plans, interactive presentations keep everyone engaged.
- Team Presentations: Each of us is matched with a colleague, and we allocate considerable time to delve into their personal and professional accomplishments. These findings are then highlighted to the entire team. Following the presentations, team members cast their votes to identify the most compelling presenter and the person who has achieved the most over the year.
- Goal Setting: Here, individual and team goals are established for the forthcoming year.
- Fun Activities: Group exercises and team building activities keep the energy high.
3. Feedback and Collaboration: An integral part of SAD is to hear from everyone. Questions like, “what one thing do you want to know about the business that you’ve never asked?” provide deep insights and pave the way for more informed decision-making.
- Momentum: The spirit of SAD shouldn’t end with the day. Goals set during this time are frequently revisited in subsequent team meetings, ensuring everyone remains on track.
- Celebration: After all the brainstorming, it’s time for a well-deserved celebration, bonding over dinner, and perhaps a few beers.
What’s next?
In the evening, we went to this incredible food hall for dinner and drinks. Although we were all so exhausted from the day, we knew just what we needed to do to shake off the tiredness and have some extra fun. While some were finishing the night early, others preferred to have more drinks!
The last day of our SAD, We walked around the ancient streets and were amazed by how much history was all around us. And the food! Oh, the food! It was the best day to enjoy tasty foods.
In conclusion, Lucidica’s Strategy Away Day isn’t just another corporate event. It’s a testament to our commitment to growth, transparency, and team spirit. This approach might not be for every organisation, but for Lucidica, it has proven to be an invaluable asset.
Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, taking time off to reflect, strategise, and bond is essential. Remember, as the saying goes on our office wall, “Team work makes the dream work”.
