Concierge
At Kadence, they understand the challenges and opportunities of hybrid work. That’s why NextRetreat recently helped them host an offsite in Amsterdam—a chance for their globally dispersed team to gather, connect, and collaborate. The results? A stronger sense of community and shared purpose that’s hard to replicate in virtual spaces.
Here are five key benefits their hybrid team members highlighted from their perspective during this memorable offsite.
1. Strengthening Existing Connections
While many of us already knew each other through virtual meetings or past collaborations, the offsite gave us something deeper: shared experiences. Activities like team-building challenges and casual dinners created moments of connection that transcended work.
Spending time together in person fosters trust and camaraderie, allowing relationships to grow organically. It’s about creating meaningful moments—not just logging hours.
2. Helping New Starters Build Relationships
For new team members, establishing connections remotely can feel daunting. Building authentic relationships in a hybrid environment often takes years.
In Amsterdam, our new starters got the chance to meet colleagues face-to-face, fast-tracking the kind of rapport that usually takes months—if not longer—to develop. From shared laughs to collaborative brainstorms, they left with a real sense of belonging.
3. Understanding How Teams Fit Into the Bigger Picture
Hybrid work can sometimes feel siloed. The offsite broke down those barriers by giving us a chance to see how other teams operate.
Through interactive sessions and cross-functional discussions, we gained a clearer picture of how every department contributes to Kadence’s success. This sense of togetherness helps us work more collaboratively, appreciating how our efforts combine to achieve common goals.
4. Clarifying Kadence’s Vision and Strategy
When you’re working remotely, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. The offsite gave us clarity about Kadence’s vision—both in the short and long term.
Leaders shared not just the “what” but the “why” behind our goals, along with how each department contributes. Having this context deepened our connection to the company’s mission and energized us to drive impact in our roles.
5. Celebrating Company Culture and Belonging
At its core, the offsite was a celebration of our people and culture. Whether it was over a meal or during a shared activity, we enjoyed simply spending time together.
These moments of connection are essential for fostering a sense of belonging, which fuels engagement and motivation. Hybrid work thrives when teams feel connected not just to their tasks but to each other.
Offsites: A Worthwhile Investment
At Kadence, our two objectives for the offsite were connection and clarity. We achieved both, and more.
For hybrid teams, offsites are more than a “nice-to-have”—they’re an essential tool for fostering collaboration, alignment, and belonging. In-person moments provide the human touch that hybrid work often lacks, turning distributed teams into united ones.
If you’re looking to enhance your hybrid strategy, consider the power of an offsite. At Kadence, it’s clear: time spent together is time well spent.
Helen Attia
Helen heads up Kadence’s People and Partnerships teams. She looks after Kadence’s employees, as well as our customers and partners. She cares deeply about how distributed work can drive better business outcomes and a happier, healthier workforce. Based in Amsterdam, she enjoys exploring the city and the other parts of Europe on her doorstep with her young family.
