When organizations bring their teams together, there's often pressure to maximize every minute of in-person time. This pressure can be especially intense for remote teams who rarely have the opportunity to be in the same physical space. But sometimes, the most productive thing an organization can do is slow down first.
This insight proved crucial when a global human rights organization approached Joyedele Consulting to design and facilitate their first-ever dedicated team retreat. With staff spread across multiple continents, the organization's only in-person gatherings had previously centered around program delivery - diving straight into execution mode without the chance to build deeper connections or think strategically about their work.
Understanding the Challenge
The stakes were high. After a particularly challenging year of rapid growth and increasing program demands, the organization needed to align on strategy while addressing natural tensions that had emerged within their remote team. Initial discovery conversations revealed the complexity of the situation:
Team members held widely varying expectations about what the retreat should accomplish
The organization's diversity (spanning generations, cultures, and professional backgrounds) created rich perspectives but also communication challenges
Past attempts to have strategic discussions had been overshadowed by immediate operational needs
Remote work patterns had created assumptions about colleagues' working styles without deeper understanding
Creating Foundation for Change
Rather than attempting to address every identified need in their limited time together, Joyedele Consulting worked with the organization's leadership to:
Set Clear Parameters
Identify realistic objectives for the in-person time
Communicate transparently about what would and wouldn't be addressed
Create clear frameworks for future conversations about items that couldn't be covered
Build Psychological Safety
Co-create specific, observable behaviors for respectful communication
Acknowledge and plan for different cultural approaches to authority and feedback
Establish concrete ways to bridge varying communication styles
Design Progressive Engagement
Structure personal connection before strategic discussion
Create space for processing past experiences before planning future actions
Build shared language before tackling complex topics
The Power of Intentional Design
This methodical approach initially challenged some team members' expectations. In a remote organization where every virtual meeting needs a clear deliverable, spending in-person time on relationship building can feel inefficient. However, the investment in foundational work quickly proved its value.
As one team member reflected: "For the first time, I understood not just what my colleagues do, but how they think about our work. This completely changed how I approach collaboration."
The intentional focus on creating psychological safety and shared understanding enabled the team to:
Navigate complex conversations about organizational identity
Address sensitive topics around roles and decision-making
Find common ground despite diverse perspectives
Create clear frameworks for remote collaboration
Key Insights for Remote Organizations
This experience highlighted several crucial principles for remote organizations planning in-person gatherings:
Resist the Urgency Trap
When in-person time is rare, the pressure to maximize it can actually hinder meaningful progress
Creating space for human connection enables more efficient strategic work later
Invest in Shared Understanding
Remote teams often operate on assumptions about colleagues' perspectives
Explicit conversation about working styles and communication preferences builds stronger collaboration
Build Clear Frameworks
Remote teams need concrete, observable behaviors for effective interaction
Co-created agreements about communication create sustainability beyond in-person gatherings
In part two of this series, we'll explore how metaphor became a powerful tool for helping this team navigate complex conversations about organizational change. Stay tuned to learn about the innovative approaches that enabled this remote team to find shared language for transformation.
Is your remote team ready to move from coordination to true collaboration? Contact us to learn how Joyedele Consulting can help create the conditions for meaningful change.