We are planning our upcoming two-day annual offsite and half of my leadership team wants to bring their spouses and schedule resort team-building activities like golf. Is this a good way to build team trust and cohesion?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Spouses and golf have no place at an EOS® annual planning session. Combining social resort activities with strategic business planning dilutes the intensity required to solve your deepest business issues. If your team thinks a two-day offsite is a social retreat, they do not understand the level of focus required.

An annual offsite is hard work. You are evaluating your V/TO®, analyzing your market, setting company Rocks, and having intense, sometimes uncomfortable debates about the leadership team and structure. Bringing spouses creates an environment of status management where people are less likely to be vulnerable or engage in healthy, messy conflict.

If you want to build genuine team cohesion, focus on sharing vulnerability during the session, not doing trust falls or playing golf. Use structured exercises like sharing your greatest personal and professional triumphs and trials, or sharing what you appreciate most and what needs work regarding each team member's performance.

Keep the offsite strictly professional and focused on the business. If you want to celebrate a great year with spouses, schedule a separate social dinner or party at another time. Keep your planning sessions intense, focused, and free of distractions so you can walk out with absolute clarity.