With law firm financial performance being put to the test in an uncertain economy, firms fighting to attract and retain talent, a renewed focus on culture as strategy and the desire to maintain engagement in a hybrid workplace, law firm retreats are more important than ever. While in the past, retreats may have been viewed as a necessary tradition or an unnecessary perk, today, they are viewed as a strategic investment in the law firm’s future. Whether it is a full-partnership offsite, all attorney retreat, executive committee planning meeting, C-suite strategy session or a focused, practice group retreat, these intentional gatherings offer rare opportunities to strengthen the relationships, trust, alignment and shared purpose that define a firm’s long-term success.
The impact of company retreats has been studied exhaustively over the years. A survey of recent studies from organizations including Harvard, Stanford, SHRM, Deloitte and others demonstrates impressive statistics, such as:
- Teams with regular off-site retreats report a 25% increase in collaboration;
- Retreats boost overall productivity by approximately 20% thanks to stronger team dynamics and morale;
- Companies with routine team building see a 41% reduction in absenteeism;
- Retreats can reduce turnover by approximately 32%;
- 34% of employees report their most creative ideas occur at retreats. This number increases to 53% for younger employees; and
- 69% of high-performing firms have increased retreat budgets since 2019.
Retreats are becoming increasingly social, with traditional work activities making up only 36% of off-site time, the rest being devoted to team building and social programming. However, most are still built around core business objectives such as strategic planning, practice group strategy, leadership development, marketing and business development and firm culture.
Post-pandemic, the biggest shift we have seen is an increased focus on smaller, more focused retreats – for leadership teams and departments/practice groups, in particular. These more intimate settings provide greater opportunities for communication and relationship building than the sometimes-hectic environments and planned social activities at larger, firmwide or full partnership gatherings.
Firms are also taking cues from the Googles and other tech giants of the world and offering more adventure or nature-based retreats – finding that natural environments tend to be more conducive to creativity and innovation. Similarly, law firms have had an increased focus on well-being since the pandemic and have been more likely to offer retreats or retreat activities focused on improving lawyer well-being.
If you are planning a retreat, consider your overall objectives and design your agenda around the same. These might include:
- Reinforcing a Shared Purpose and Vision
Through a combination of large and small group discussions, recommit to the firm’s core mission, values and strategic direction. This will give participants the opportunity to understand the firm’s priorities and their role in advancing them, recommit to their goals and engage in deeper strategic thinking than busy daily schedules typically allow. - Build Trust and Connection in the Hybrid Era
Retreats create intentional moments for connection. Over meals, shared experiences and candid discussions, personal relationships that foster trust and loyalty can be built that would not be possible via Zoom. - Enhancing Communication and Collaboration
Lawyers are often siloed by their practice group, location, role in the firm or even office space. Retreats disrupt those typical boundaries and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue that creates a greater sense of professional community. - Accelerating Leadership Development
Retreats can serve as accelerators for the next generation of law firm leaders. Junior partners/shareholders and associates are often invited to participate in retreat planning, giving them a sense of ownership in the outcome and providing the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership skills. Additionally, retreats provide more junior attorneys the opportunity to communicate with firm leaders and senior partners where they may not have the opportunity to do so otherwise. - Creating Shared Momentum
Sometimes firms face a sense of inertia, particularly during challenging times. Done well, retreats can re-energize teams, create accountability for change and build collective excitement for the work (and success!) ahead.
In a world of dispersed teams, evolving generational expectations and increasing pressure on performance, law firm retreats can serve as an effective tool in preserving and strengthening your firm’s culture and achieving your firm’s goals for strategic growth