What do you do to add energy and inspiration to your team culture?

A commitment to an annual, in-person team conference is the answer to that question for me and our business, The Physio Co (TPC).

We've just wrapped up the 2025 version of TPC Swarm.

TPC Swarm is a day of learning, growing and celebrating for the entire TPC team.

It's our Team Conference, and it is THE most important day on our annual calendar that all TPCers look forward to.

Each team member travels from their respective part of Adelaide, Melbourne, or Sydney to South Melbourne and they leave with a big dose of connection, inspiration and recognition.

What's the value?

This is the 15th year that we've held a TPC Swarm-type event for our team.

A day of connection every year is part of the invisible secret sauce that creates a strong team culture.

The investment in TPC Swarm is in the many thousands of dollars and encompasses the costs of the venue, catering, speakers, travel, awards, prizes, decorations, photography, and more.

The value, or return on that investment, is hard to estimate, but is understood to be many times the cost of the annual event.

How do we know?

Well, research has found that it can cost up to 1.5 times an employee's annual salary to replace them if they choose to leave.  Therefore, if the annual investment in TPC Swarm costs $10,000 and results in greater energy, engagement and ultimately retention of even one full-time team member, there is 10x or more return on investment!

What happens at a Team Conference?

Hosting a team conference provides a platform to recap the last year and regroup or refocus on the year ahead for all team members.

At TPC Swarm, the recap, presented by the CEO, always involves the progress we've made toward our 10-year goal, the 3-year painted picture vision, our core values being lived, and client success stories.

The focus on the year ahead involves the next steps on our already communicated vision, along with the detail on upcoming projects that will help us grow, improve and/or serve our customers better.

Don't forget the learning!

A team that learns together, stays together :)

A learning element at a team conference is essential.

In the past, we've engaged many technical experts and thought leaders from within our industry.

This year, we embraced our own theme of choosing courage over comfort and invited a keynote speaker from outside our industry.

Musician, broadcaster, sometimes actor, speaker and entrepreneur Clare Bowditch was a hit as she presented a bespoke version of her 'Befriend your inner critic' workshop for our team.

Clare spoke with us, played her guitar and sang for us, she even invited us to sing along.  She left us feeling seen, heard, connected, courageous and inspired.

Our courage to step out of our industry comfort zone was rewarded - Clare was one of the best speakers we've ever had.

And don't forget to enjoy it!

Planning and hosting a team conference can feel exhausting.

Don't let this get in the way of being as present as you can in the moment and enjoy this important part of your rhythm of connection.

Keep at it.

______

PS - Info about speaking and facilitating I do at events like TPC Swarm is over HERE.