HOW TO HOST A JANUARY TEAM STRATEGY DAY (BRISBANE EDITION)
January is one of the most powerful times of the year for organisations. Teams return refreshed, leaders are thinking big-picture, and there’s a natural appetite for clarity, alignment, and energy. A well-planned January strategy day can bring your people together, help crystallise goals, and create shared momentum for the year ahead. But the best strategy days aren’t just meetings in disguise — they blend structure, collaboration, and comfort in a way that leaves people feeling inspired rather than drained. Whether you’re a growing team or a large organisation preparing for the year ahead, here’s how to host a January strategy day your team will genuinely look forward to attending.
1. Define the Purpose of Your Strategy Day
Before choosing a venue or creating the agenda, clarify exactly what you want the day to achieve. Are you aiming to: align the team on the organisation’s vision and key priorities, brainstorm ideas or plan upcoming projects, update staff on business performance, strengthen relationships after the holiday break, introduce new goals, or reset expectations and workflows? Your goals will dictate the format, agenda length, activities, catering, and even the room layout. A strategy day with a clear purpose feels purposeful and motivating — not like a standard meeting with a longer timeframe.
2. Choose a Venue That Gets People Out of “Office Mode”
One of the fastest ways to elevate a strategy day is to take it out of the workplace. When people stay in the office, they remain mentally tied to their desks, to-dos, and daily routines. A dedicated venue removes distractions and makes the day feel special — an investment in the team rather than just another item on the calendar. Look for spaces that offer: privacy for discussions, comfortable seating, natural ambience, AV facilities, room flexibility, attentive service, and quality food and beverage options. Factory51 is ideal for Brisbane strategy days thanks to its warm, stylish atmosphere, flexible layouts, and seamless AV capability. It offers enough separation from the office to spark creativity, while still delivering a professional setting for presentations, planning sessions, and team discussions.
3. Set the Tone with a Strong Opening Session
The first 30 minutes of your strategy day can shape the mood for the entire event. Start with something that immediately brings the team together — a warm welcome from leadership, a reflection on the past year, a short story that highlights teamwork or resilience, or a clear outline of the goals for the day. Keep the tone positive, open, and forward-focused. January is naturally optimistic, so lean into that energy with an introduction that invites participation and encourages a shared sense of purpose.
4. Create an Agenda That Balances Structure and Space
The most effective strategy days follow an agenda that is clear but not rigid. A typical flow might include: a welcome session and overview, presentation of key organisational priorities, breakout discussions or brainstorming groups, mid-morning catering break, collaborative planning activities, leadership insights or departmental updates, a long-table lunch, afternoon workshop or facilitated session, and a closing alignment moment. The goal is to keep the day productive without overwhelming staff. People need time to think, discuss, reflect, and regroup — and a well-organised schedule helps maintain momentum.
5. Keep Sessions Short, Purposeful, and Engaging
January attention spans are fresh but can fade quickly if sessions become overly long. Aim for segments of 20–40 minutes, ideally with interaction built in. Use a mix of presentation styles such as short talks, group discussions, Q&A segments, collaborative activities, problem-solving challenges, and facilitated planning time. The structure keeps energy high while allowing different types of thinkers to contribute — a key ingredient of a successful strategy day.
6. Prioritise Food That Fuels the Brain
Good catering makes a remarkable difference to the success of a strategy day. People think, collaborate, and participate better when they’ve eaten well — and January heat calls for fresh, seasonal menus. Choose options that are satisfying without being heavy, such as shared Italian-inspired menus, fresh salads and mains, grazing-style morning tea, and light canapés for afternoon breakouts. Factory51’s banquet-style and shared-feast menus work beautifully for strategy days because they create connection, encourage conversation, and feel like a treat rather than standard corporate catering. A long-table lunch also gives staff an opportunity to relax and socialise before diving into the afternoon agenda.
7. Use AV and Technology to Your Advantage
A strategy day often relies on clear communication, visual presentations, and shared content. Choosing a venue with built-in AV eliminates the stress of equipment hire or patchy connections. Make sure you have: a projector or large screen for presentations, speakers for videos or audio elements, easy laptop connectivity, a microphone (if hosting a larger team), and Wi-Fi access if required. This ensures your presentation runs smoothly and keeps the team engaged without awkward interruptions or delays. Factory51’s AV setup makes it simple to incorporate slides, videos, speeches, and interactive content throughout the day.
8. Encourage Meaningful Team Bonding
Strategy days aren’t just about information-sharing; they’re also about connection. Staff returning from the holiday break appreciate intentional moments that bring the team together. You could incorporate: small-group discussions mixed across departments, team-building exercises that feel light rather than forced, shared problem-solving challenges, facilitated conversations, or reflective exercises where staff share insights or goals. These moments help break down silos, strengthen communication, and create a collaborative culture for the year ahead.
9. Add a Celebratory Element
Even though it’s a strategy day, a touch of celebration can elevate the mood and reinforce team appreciation. Consider including a welcome drink, a toast at lunch, a short awards moment, acknowledgements of individual or team contributions, or a few minutes set aside to celebrate wins from the previous year. It doesn’t need to be elaborate — simply recognising effort and contribution sets a positive foundation for the new year. Many organisations also use the strategy day as their “post-Christmas celebration”, combining alignment with a belated social event.
10. Close the Day with Clarity and Energy
End your strategy day on a strong note by bringing everyone back together for a clear, uplifting conclusion. Summarise the key outcomes from discussions, outline next steps or responsibilities, reaffirm goals for the quarter or year, and thank your team for their input. A positive closing creates shared energy and helps staff leave feeling engaged, motivated, and aligned. Optional final touches include group photos, a final drink, or a small take-home item such as a notebook, message card, or branded keepsake.
Why Factory51 Is Ideal for January Strategy Days
Located in Coorparoo and easily accessible from across Brisbane, Factory51 offers a warm, sophisticated setting that immediately takes teams out of “office mode”. The venue provides everything you need for a seamless strategy day: private room options, flexible floor layouts, onsite AV capability, restaurant-quality meals, attentive staff, and a stylish environment that feels inspiring rather than corporate. Whether you’re hosting 20 people or a larger group, the space can adapt to workshops, planning sessions, long-table lunches, client meetings, and leadership offsites. With fresh January availability and a team experienced in hosting professional events, Factory51 makes it simple to deliver a strategy day your team will genuinely enjoy — and remember.