Despite being an international PR agency, Fourth Day is a close-knit team; all our offices chat regularly and we meet up once a year at our annual international off-site. But there’s nothing quite like seeing your long-distance colleagues in their home environment, which is why I was so excited to spend time with our French team in Paris last week.
This was the longest time I’ve spent working remotely from my usual team, so here’s 3 things I learned by changing my working environment.
1) Flying solo means you have to be decisive
Most of my clients are UK-based companies that I work with alongside my colleagues in Britain. This presented a challenge when I was working from Paris – although of course I could use WhatsApp and Slack to keep in touch, it’s not the same as being able to quickly brainstorm with someone sat opposite you, or pick up the phone for a chat with the London team.
This forced me to be firmer when making decisions – if I liked an idea, I ran with it (within reason of course!). I love working collaboratively, but being more confident in my own choices is something I’m going to bring back to the UK.
2) A new environment can make you more creative
PR at its heart is about storytelling and we’re always on the lookout for new ways to help our clients speak to their audiences.
Being in a new place can be the breath of fresh air you need to help think of the theme for the next creative campaign or nail down the topic for an up-coming whitepaper. At Fourth Day, we regularly get out and about for our ‘creative brainstorms’, which see us go somewhere different to chat through new projects and try new things. Just recently, we’ve been on a water-taxi in Manchester, an exhibition about robots and to various art galleries.
3) It’s great to be a tourist – even in your own city!
Finally, while in Paris, it was brilliant to spend my evenings exploring the city – whether that be a jog around the Bois de Boulogne, a picnic near the Eiffel Tower or an evening exploration of the Louvre.
It got me thinking – there’s loads to see in Manchester, so why don’t I make as much effort in my own city? I’m determined to start making the most of this brilliant city – if you need me after work, you can find me in one of our fantastic galleries, parks or attractions. Vive le soir!
Sapphire Rees is an account executive at Fourth Day PR.
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