Every year at LyntonWeb, our remote team gathers in person to discuss the past, present, and future of our company. These four days together help us grow so we can better serve our clients – and so we can all individually improve, personally and professionally.
It also helps us get to know one another and turbocharge our collaboration, which results in lots of smiles and team happiness. And, a happy integrated marketer means a satisfied customer.
Here’s an overview of our experiences of our 2019 company retreat in Boulder, Colorado at Chautauqua Park.
Coming Together for the First Time
For some Lyntonites, this was not their first rodeo. But due to our recent growth, many had never experienced a LyntonWeb retreat. In fact, many had never met each other in person at all. That’s why it was necessary to come together our first night to mix and mingle.
At a happy hour on the park’s premises, newcomers and seasoned veterans alike were able to meet (and re-connect) face to face. Many of us discussed what it’s like working remotely and how we overcome those challenges. Some even introduced their significant others and spouses to the team, adding a new layer of depth to our Lynton family. Throughout the night, people from all departments discussed various topics and prepared for our full-day Growth Summit.
Our LyntonWeb Growth Summit
Perhaps the most vital component of our retreat was our Growth Summit. Here, our CEO Daniel Lynton relived the history of LyntonWeb – from one small office of a few people to over 40 employees – and lead our conversation into where the company is headed.
Daniel, along with other members of our executive team, defined our company’s core assumptions and values. He presented our new mission statement for the first time to help guide the entire day. After that, we dove into the bulk of our summit: discussing our Action Profile Initiatives (APIs).
These initiatives were born after a two-day StratOp session with JERA Partnerships in April. To simplify the process, we broke our initiatives down into four main categories with unique objectives and deliverables for each one. During this process, we continued to reflect on how far we’ve come, and how far we can go.
After reviewing our company action items, we split into smaller groups to brainstorm scenarios related directly to our items. Following this exercise, our team members felt more confident about how we can optimize internally to maximize externally.
BarCamp
New to our company retreat was our inaugural BarCamp. BarCamp consisted of seven employees getting up to speak about a topic close to them. Many discussed their journey with LyntonWeb and what the company means to them. Others saw these as an opportunity to present their client management style, and our web content specialist gave us tips on how to make complicated documentation easier.
Department Outings
LyntonWeb is divided into three distinct departments: web, marketing, and integration. For team building, each department set out on a different trail of Chautauqua. Between catching our breath, petting dogs, and taking pictures, we got a chance to learn more about each other and find ways to better function as a team. We didn’t set out to discuss work, but a few HubSpot related conversations crept in. We can’t help ourselves.
Afterward, our departments met for lunch – that they all earned after battling the high altitude and steep trails. This was another opportunity to learn more about each other and explore Boulder. Several sales and integration team members took it another step further and golfed. However, no real winners have been named.
Employee Reaction
Without our employees, there’d be no LyntonWeb, and there’d be no annual retreat. That’s why we wanted to hear directly from them:
“This was the first retreat I've attended, and all I can say is, 'Family.' It describes my experience based on the other team members I met, the one-day summit we were able to with the whole company, and the relationships that I formed. The retreat got me excited about the work we are doing at LyntonWeb and was a great reminder that we all come from different backgrounds and families, but that one time of year brings us all together. I'm looking forward to what next year has in store.”
Alex Juchniewicz Web Project Manager
“As you may know, Lynton Web has been in business since 1999. I worked at LyntonWeb from 2006-2007, returning in 2015. It is impressive to see how much LyntonWeb has grown since then! Back in 2006, we were a small team working out of a windowless room in the Houston suburb of Katy. Running a small business is a lot of work. We would have never dreamed that we would one day be part of a 40+ person team with employees stretching from Canada to Mexico. But at the Growth Summit, we got to see how much LyntonWeb has grown. It has been a slow and steady growth, which I think a lot of us appreciate -- we all hear horror stories of what working at a startup is like, and we all know how stifling working for a large corporation can be. LyntonWeb is at an excellent point right now where we are big enough to reap the benefits of teamwork but still small enough to have a good, friendly, welcoming atmosphere where everyone knows each other. The Growth Summit let us see how far we've come and how much more is still possible at LW!
Eric Popelka Connector Developer
“Our 2019 company retreat was the third I've attended, and so far the largest for our company. With an emphasis on courage and change being this year's theme, we kicked things off with a great mix and mingle. It was amazing to see all the new faces who had joined the company since our last retreat. We had our first Growth Summit full of great information regarding both where we've been and where we are going as a company and interactive problem-solving exercises. We also had several inspirational personal accounts that encouraged us to push past own growth boundaries. To be able to pick up like old friends at these retreats and have such a warm, strong, collaborative environment in spite of being remote never ceases to amaze me. Between the stunning setting of Chautauqua Park in Boulder and the fantastic company of my coworkers, it was truly a joy and privilege to participate in the Lynton 2019 company retreat. If this year's retreat was any indication of what's to come, I absolutely cannot wait for 2020!”
Tracy Butcher Website Delivery Specialist
Wrapping Up
After one last final group dinner, our company was set free to explore Boulder on their own for the last day of the retreat. Despite no agenda, many Lyntonites came together to strengthen their relationships and, of course, have fun. Because at the end of the day, we realize how challenging it can be to an all-remote team. Coming together not only helps us become a more cohesive team, but it also helps us become a better partner for you.
To discuss an upcoming integrated inbound marketing project (or get your own retreat planning tips), contact us today!
You May Also Like
