Plenty of us feel like we need to be in three places at once. In October, on a hill in South Limburg, we actually managed it.
We were standing at the Drielandenpunt, where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet. It was the last day of our tenth Helixiora Connect, three days based at Hotel de Korenwolf in Gulpen.
If you haven't heard us talk about Connect before, it's our quarterly get-together. Once a quarter we step away from the office to plan the quarter ahead, talk about the business and our clients, share what we've learned and spend time together as a team. Here's how this one went.
It starts with the founders
Day one is Founders' Day. Our founders sit together to discuss the business, their plans and the direction they want to take it.
By the evening the rest of us were filtering in for a team dinner. We've had new people join, so for some it was the first time meeting face to face. Others already knew everyone from the office. Either way, a shared meal is a good place to start. Gallup's research on remote teams says much the same: there's something about sharing a meal and being in the same room that a video call can't match.
Why we don't do this in a meeting room
On day two we got down to business. The founders shared what they have in store, we presented our own pieces, and everyone had a chance to give their input. We introduced the new Helixiora brand guide and built our Q4 plan together.
The conversations were interesting and full of information, and that's the whole point. Away from emails, Slack and the next deadline, people look at things differently. We're not the only ones who've noticed. In one study, people who spent four days in nature away from their devices scored 50% higher on a creative problem-solving test.
Three countries before lunch
Day three is our cultural day, when we get to experience the place we’ve met in. So we walked up to the Drielandenpunt and stood in three countries at the same time. For once, being in three places at once was a choice.
The walk was doing more than giving us a good photo, too. Stanford researchers found that people come up with around 60% more creative ideas while walking than while sitting. Not a bad way to end a planning week.
And the winners are...
We finished with lunch at Gulpener, a brewery tour and a blind beer tasting. Out of ten of us, only Robin and Louis scored 75%. Their bragging rights are now official, certificates and all.
Why we keep doing it
Ten Connects in, we still leave with a clear plan and a team that's aligned on where we're going. But it's also how a team that works across different locations stays one team. In 2023 Gallup found that only 28% of remote workers felt connected to their employer’s mission. Connect is how we make sure that's not us.
New team members get to know the people behind the Slack names. Everyone builds trust that carries through the rest of the quarter. And we believe that shows in the work we do for our clients.
Thank you to everyone who made the trip, and to Hotel de Korenwolf for having us. Our next Connect is in January 2027. Where to this time? Follow Helixiora on LinkedIn and you'll find out.