Fun, Games, and Future Building: Flame PR's Away Day

By Jada Bas

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​On one cloudy, unassuming day, the team at Flame rallied together at the Institute of Structural Engineering for some team bonding, to create the roadmap for our future, and most importantly, for some free biscuits. 

Yummy biscuits aside, the away day was a brilliant way to get together for some fun and to find new ways to channel the creativity which tirelessly pours from our fingertips and on to our screens 5 days a week. By the end of the day, the team became architects in building a future for Flame PR. 

But first, a game!

The Human Knot

Each left hand should hold a left hand, and each right hand a right. And it's against the rules to let go of the hands you are holding! A lot of bending and twisting took place in order to untangle ourselves.

The knot game taught us communication, bonding, reliance on each other, and just how sweaty some people’s hands can get!

Other than tough knots and sweaty palms, what else did we take away from our day away?

SWOT

Here at Flame we love a good acronym - a key element of the day was the SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat) analysis. This delivered a broad range of insights and suggestions to grow the business.

Our guaranteed tier 1 coverage and our team of the best writers topped the list of our strengths. Additionally, a teary eyed moment for all was when a whopping 100% of the team reported that our biggest strength is the family-like culture we have here! Here for each other to assist with writing, pitching, locking in an interview, and not to mention the entire PR team we have on hand 24/7 when anxiously drafting a text to lock in a date… 

With weaknesses and threats also being addressed, we are glad to announce the enhancements to the Holiday Policy and Gym membership are opportunities, which are quick wins that have already been actioned.

Now time for lunch!

The Paper Tower

Another quick game to help us digest our finger sandwiches and put the food babies to rest was the paper tower. 

The team dispersed into 4 teams to try and build a paper tower – with no adhesives or any other objects being allowed. One of man’s greatest conquests. 

This was all about creativity, team work, leadership and delicate balance!

We had some inventive ways in which people tried to build their paper towers. Though after much travail, carefully strategised folds were universally adopted to build the most diaphanous of paper towers.  

Jada, Marcus, Ollie and Joel were victorious, thrashing all of their fierce competitors and taking home the gold – as well as some of Lindt’s finest chocolates.

Now back to some more future building.

Brand, Operations, and Growth (BOG)

As a small team, we often forget that Flame PR needs its own PR to enrich the brand! (Ironic, right?). With Kully Dhadda, our CEO and ex BBC business journalist of 15 years, we surely are due some more awards. 

Our operations are going to start being more focused on the ways we can improve and develop our relationships with journalists. That’s right, I can see more networking events, coffees, and lunches in my crystal ball.

These factors will ultimately contribute to our growth, alongside potential opportunities like expanding the marketing department, and the team as a whole.

Though this is just a glimpse into how we intend to improve our BOG!

Wellbeing

Arguably the most significant opportunity that the day inspired was our wellbeing policy, and how that can be actively integrated into the business and the day-to-day. 

Sat side by side in a trust circle, the team anonymously shared their fears and anxieties about work, which we then discussed along with the possible ways one could overcome these. Listening and understanding is a vital component of our team which makes us feel safe in who we are and what we do.
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Promoting and supporting the wellbeing of our team will continue to be championed at work. In fact, studies have shown that investing in employee wellbeing can lead to higher performance and productivity. And a good study can’t be beat, right? We have already appointed a new wellbeing ambassador and are working sensitively and diligently to employ initiatives and policies that will enable the team to flourish and feel heard.

Ultimately, after a day full of stuffed bellies – sandwiches, tea, and biscuits galore, we were also full of bright ideas for the future of Flame. Despite a cloudy day, the creativity, bonding and great team play radiated sunshine and warmth. With lots of work to do to make it happen, we can’t wait to be a part of it. 

…Now off for a drink!