Why Play Matters in Serious Team Retreats
(And Why Most Teams Overlook It)
When planning a serious team offsite — one with mission-setting, strategic goals, or cultural reset at the centre — it’s easy to push play to the sidelines.
“Let’s get the real work done first.”
“We can throw in a bit of fun at the end.”
“Team-building games? We’ll see how time goes.”
But here’s the truth:
Play isn’t a break from the work. It’s the breakthrough.
At Elsewhere Offsites, we’ve seen it again and again — the magic that happens when teams laugh, move, and break pattern before diving into the big conversations. The walls drop. The minds open. The alignment lands.
This isn’t about ping-pong or forced icebreakers. It’s about unlocking the full creative, emotional, and collaborative potential of your team — in ways no flipchart ever could.
The Neuroscience of Play: Trust, Creativity, and Safety
Play activates parts of the brain responsible for:
Neuroplasticity (adaptability and problem-solving)
Dopamine release (motivation and engagement)
Oxytocin (trust and bonding)
In simple terms, play helps your team:
Feel safe
Feel seen
Feel ready
That’s why some of the most forward-thinking companies in the world build play into their most high-stakes offsites. Because teams that can move and laugh together can also build and lead together.
From Graffiti to Survival: How We Design for Impact
At Elsewhere, we build experiences that are more than just fun — they’re frameworks for transformation.
You might:
Unleash your inner Banksy in a creative graffiti challenge
Crack codes and solve a mystery together at your venue
Compete in an old-school Sports Day with a twist
Or go totally off-grid in a survival-style bonding challenge
These aren’t fillers. They’re filters.
They show you who steps up, who listens, who leads, who laughs, and what happens when you break out of the boardroom.
“We Thought It Was Silly, But…” — Real-World Moments
We’ve had senior leadership teams from global brands arrive sceptical.
“We’re not really into games.”
“We just want to get through the agenda.”
“This feels a bit… extra.”
Until 20 minutes in, when something shifts. A look exchanged. A laugh shared. A creative spark. A moment of real human connection that echoes into the next strategy session — and sometimes even rewrites it.
One team built their entire new mission statement after a play session.
Because the energy had shifted. The room was open. And suddenly, the words came from a shared place.
So If You’re Planning a Serious Offsite…
Make room for play.
Not just as an afterthought. Not just as a reward.
But as a deliberate, powerful part of your retreat.
Because when you play:
Hierarchies dissolve
Creativity explodes
Teams remember they’re human
And that’s when the real work gets done.
Ready to Design a Retreat That Works and Plays?
We’re Elsewhere Offsites.
We curate full-service company retreats near London — including strategy, facilitation, venues, food, and yes, play that matters.
Let’s build the offsite your team actually remembers.
And take a look at our immense team building activities here.