Salesforce.com Inc. Chief Executive Marc Benioff probably triggered a reaction among many workers when he mentioned a next-level effort at team-building.

For those who have endured such attempts, it understandably can cause employees to roll their eyes at the mere mention of the strategy. 

But wait … what if an entire working group was physically moved to a large … ranch?

Benioff, in comments during the Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything Festival on Tuesday, offered up an idea on how to reinvigorate the software company’s workplace culture.

As his company reimagines its future, he suggested the possible purchase of a large property to use for team- and culture-building activities, as well as employee orientations and training sessions.

He has done some research on this one, referencing “Crotonville,” the New York campus built by General Electric in the 1950s for a culture and training base.

“We’re looking at maybe buying a large piece of land, maybe a large ranch in the United States or some other type of acreage where we can build the next generation of Crotonville,” Benioff said in an interview with the Journal.

But don’t think of it as all work and no play. Benioff also called on Disney as a touchpoint.

“What they’ve done so successfully with their parks is you show up at a Disney park and you smell Disney, you see Disney, you feel Disney, you hear Disney. That’s what I want my new employees to feel for Salesforce. That’s the culture coming through,” he said.

Can you “smell” Salesforce?

At any rate, Benioff also underscored the togetherness aspect, mentioning his vision includes room for employees’ families.

“(This is) very different from what we were thinking a year ago before this pandemic began,” he said.

 

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