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If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at the idea of a “team away day,” you’re not alone. All too often, they conjure images of awkward icebreakers and bland buffets in windowless conference rooms, waiting for the day to be done. But when done right? Internal events, especially well-crafted away days, can genuinely transform company culture.
And no, we’re not talking about trust falls.
The Culture You Think You Have
On paper, you might say your culture is “collaborative,” “people-first,” “dynamic.” Maybe those words even sit proudly on your company’s ‘About Us’ page. But what does that actually look like when your team’s spread across cities, departments, and Slack channels?
Internal events give you a chance to test, explore, and reinforce the culture you say you inbody. It’s culture, made tangible.
Real Conversations. Real Shifts.
Not all breakthroughs come from boardrooms or strategy decks. Sometimes, they happen over a shared meal, a game of rounders, or during a quiet moment in a workshop.
We’ve seen teams arrive tense, disconnected, unsure of what the day will bring. But with the right environment, structured activities, honest facilitation, and space to be human, walls come down. Conversations deepen. People speak up, sometimes for the first time.
We've had team members tell us, "I finally understand what my colleague deals with every day," or "I never felt part of the leadership team until now."
These aren’t just warm fuzzies. They're the beginnings of real cultural shifts. When people feel heard and understood, they collaborate differently. They show up differently. And that change carries long past the final session.
That’s the quiet power of an internal event done right.
Why “Getting Away” Matters
Changing the backdrop does more than refresh the scenery. It signals permission. Permission to speak differently. To interact outside of hierarchies. To be a bit more human!
Here’s why the “away” part matters:
It removes daily distractions (goodbye inbox, hello headspace)
It breaks routine and that break invites new thinking
It allows for bonding over non-work things, which often builds more trust than any performance review
Even a well-designed half-day event in your own city or town, if run with intention, can create the space needed for big cultural shifts.
Designing for Change, Not Just a Day Out
Not every away day needs to include an inspirational keynote or a firewalking finale. In fact, some of the most impactful moments are the simplest, such as a creative challenge that sparks unexpected collaboration
At Anopia, we always start with one question: What needs to change in your team, and how can this day help catalyse that change? Then we build from there, with warmth, honesty, and yes, the occasional laugh.
Measuring the Impact
You might not be able to tie a culture shift to a single event on a Gantt chart, but you’ll feel it. You’ll see:
- Emails written with more empathy
- Slack channels lighting up with positivity
- Teams who work together, reach out, and follow through
And if you send out a simple “How did this day make you feel?” survey? You’ll get the kind of responses that stay with you.
Culture Is Built Between the Lines
Internal events won’t fix every challenge. But they create the conditions for real change, conditions that are nearly impossible to engineer in the flow of the regular 9-to-5.
So if your team is running low on energy, clarity, or connection, maybe it’s time to pause.
Step away.
And build something better, together.
Learn from Our Experts
Our blog is full of tips and tricks from our expert event planners to help you start planning your event.
