Rethinking AwayDays From Task Lists to Strategic Vision
Away-days are more than just a break from routine—they are a vital opportunity to align, inspire, and strategize. As teams navigate complex challenges it’s essential that these gatherings go beyond reviewing spreadsheets and task lists. Instead, they should foster a shared sense of purpose, strategic clarity, and collective ambition.
The Problem with Task-Centric AwayDays
While operational updates are important, focusing solely on a list of “todo” items—especially in formats like Excel or PowerPoint—can feel uninspiring and disconnected from the bigger picture. Teams want to understand not just what they are doing, but why it matters. This is especially true in times of change.
What Teams Really Want
I suggest mosy teams have an appetite for:
Strategic clarity: What is our vision / mission for the next five years?
Impact orientation: How do our services improve lives, and how do we measure that?
Transparency and accountability: Who owns what, and how do we track success?
Innovation and integration: How can we work smarter, not harder—e.g., collaboration, process improvement etc.
Financial foresight: How are we preparing for funding / cost challenges?
A Better Format for AwayDays
To meet these needs, consider structuring awaydays around the following pillars:
1. Vision and Mission Setting
Begin with a session that reaffirms or redefines the team’s purpose.
Use storytelling or case studies to illustrate the realworld impact of your work.
2. Strategic Landscape
Present a highlevel overview of current challenges and opportunities.
Include financial forecasts, policy shifts, and emerging public health trends.
3. Interactive Workshops
Break into small groups to tackle key questions:
What should our KPIs be?
How do we define and measure ROI?
Where can we integrate services for greater impact?
4. Service Deep Dives
Instead of listing tasks, invite service leads to present:
What their service does
Its impact and outcomes
Challenges and opportunities for improvement
5. CrossTeam Collaboration
Facilitate sessions where different teams explore synergies and learn from each other.
Encourage open dialogue about integration and innovation.
6. Action Planning with Accountability
End with a clear, prioritized action plan.
Assign ownership and timelines, but link each task to strategic goals.
Final Thoughts
An effective awayday should leave the team not just informed, but energized. It should connect daily tasks to a broader mission, clarify roles and expectations, and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. In a resourceconstrained environment, this strategic alignment is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.