The Founders’ Table: From Screens to Real Connection
In-Person Team Residencies: Why Founders Are Moving Beyond Remote Work.
Remote and hybrid work have transformed how we do business. Teams are more flexible, more distributed, and often more productive. But many founders and senior leaders are beginning to notice a gap. One that Zoom, Slack and strategy decks can’t fill.
That gap is human connection.
The Challenge of Remote Teams
While remote work supports efficiency, it can quietly weaken trust, creativity and company culture. Conversations become task-focused. Relationships stay surface-level. Leaders carry more emotional weight as informal connection disappears.
This doesn’t mean remote work has failed. In my experience, teams and their leaders all benefit from intentional time together.
Why In-Person Residencies Work
In-contrast to traditional offsites where schedules can be packed. We’ve been quietly developing our Residencies with the purpose of giving our guests space to think, reflect, speak honestly and understand each other. When teams step away from screens and into a calm, well-designed environment, behaviour shifts. Communication improves. Creativity returns and people feel valued again.
At A Little Place, we host intimate leadership and team residencies for founders and executive teams of 10–20 people. Each stay blends:
focused meeting spaces
shared meals
creative or strategic sessions
restorative experiences such as walks and wellbeing activities
The result is stronger relationships and renewed clarity — not forced bonding.
Culture Is Built in Person
I’m so grateful for my experiences gained in the military and elite sport and learning that company culture isn’t created in policies or when you write buzz words on a wall, in policies. It’s built through shared experiences, trust and presence. A few well-designed days together can realign a team far more effectively than months of virtual meetings.
For founders navigating growth, change or transition, in-person connection isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessary leadership tool.
If you’re exploring meaningful team offsites or leadership residencies in the UK, consider how the right environment could help your people get the best of the experience and move forward together.