Sometimes we all feel that we "can't see the wood for the trees" - we're too close to a situation to view it with any perspective. That's when we need to step away for a while, and away days are a great way of doing this. Use them to build trust, learn new skills, and say thank you!

As a result, we lose our focus on what’s really important. That’s when problems can arise, and without a little distance from the situation, and some much-needed perspective, it’s harder to spot problems and solve them. It’s something that can affect the whole team. If you’re someone who manages the team, then this is something to be aware of and plan for.

Taking your team out of the ‘closeness’ of their daily situation can make a huge and lasting difference. Don’t forget that team-building days can also be part of personal development plans and goals.

Another saying you might have heard is that “a change is as good as a rest”. This is one of the benefits that team-building days bring. It can be amazing to see just how much difference a temporary change of scenery can make; it can show us new things about who we are, bring hitherto hidden characteristics out, and infuse a new sense of purpose in a team. And if you make them annual events, it’s something that (hopefully!) a team will come to look forward to and plan effectively for. It can also be a great way of saying thanks for the hard work the team has put in since the pandemic hit – you could also think about getting pizzas in, or putting on an afternoon tea.

Get Away! Organising team days

So how should you go about preparing for a team day, and what sort of things could you do with your team?

• Consider what it is that you really want to achieve. Is there a particular problem that needs addressing? Think carefully about this and involve your team – ask for their opinions and make them a part of the process. After all, it is for their benefit.
• Think who needs to attend. Smaller groups can create intimacy and personal bonds, whereas larger groups can feel more inclusive, as long as they are controlled and directed effectively.
• Choose a good name. It’s not always a great idea to call the event an away-day. Sometimes this can have negative connotations, especially if people have been to unenjoyable or awkward ones in the past. Maybe you could call it the name of the activity, or perhaps use your team’s name in the title.
• Location, location, location. This is key – whether it’s an activity you’re planning outdoors, or a meeting room somewhere, think carefully about the facilities on offer, and any accessibility issues.
• Plan cover for while you’re away. Locum cover can help here, but budget carefully. On the day, try not to let yourself or your team become distracted by any of the usual day-to-day worries, and discourage checking phones or email.
• Use the opportunity to say thank you. Team members are likely to have gone above and beyond due to the pandemic. Even in normal times, staff in primary care give so much of themselves, it’s always a good idea to say thank you – and as actions speak louder than words, using a training or activity day to say thanks will make a difference. 

How can Thornfields help?

Of course, you don’t always have to take your team to an external location, or plan outdoor activities. There are lots of things you can do indoors, in your own surgery or in a hired room that can also help to form and cement team cohesion.

The Total Teamworking course from Thornfields, our award-winning training experts, is a fun and interactive workshop that gives practice team members the opportunity to learn about and reflect upon their own team work style, and to understand how to work well with others to create good teams. Amongst other themes, it explores the Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing model of team development, which describes the whole lifecycle of a team’s creation, development, and performance.

FPM Group also offers a facilitation service and can work with GP practices to facilitate their annual planning meetings or “away-days”.