There’s a bunch of buzzwords flying around in modern business – mindfulness, wellbeing, inclusion – but so often they turn out to be empty promises, added to the bottom of websites and buried away in HR policies.
But there is true value in these concepts, on both a personal and professional level. So, how can Spiral, as a creative agency, find a way to embrace and explore them, while keeping them relevant in our everyday business lives? Spiral founder, Simon Turner, takes a closer look – and reflects on the work we have done to make these ideas a working reality.
Follow our LinkedIn page for the Upward Spiral newsletter, featuring new blogs and more.
The pressure and the passion
A career in the creative world can be engaging, exciting and rewarding. At the same time it brings a unique set of challenges, often magnified by the fast pace of modern digital media production.
These challenges add the kind of pressure that helps people grow their abilities and deliver even better work. Perhaps this is why this is such a dynamic, fulfilling industry.
That said, factors like deadlines, a highly competitive environment and the pressure to be constantly ‘on’ can significantly impact both mental and physical health. For some, the lines between work and life start to blur – and the passion and pressure that often fuels creativity can become a source of significant stress.
At Spiral, we believe that focusing on wellbeing is not a luxury, but an essential component of a sustainable and successful creative business. By actively nurturing mental and physical health, we hope to be able to build a supportive and resilient foundation that allows people to thrive under pressure, rather than just survive it.
Empowering professional development
Putting wellbeing first also helps Spiral deliver career success for our creative team. We know that when a designer feels rested, focused and supported, their creativity flourishes – helping them produce more innovative ideas, higher quality work and fostering a renewed sense of purpose.
Taking a break, setting boundaries and seeking support when you need it are not signs of weakness. We see them as smart, strategic investments in creative output and long-term success – and in the end, our clients benefit too.
Expert insight: the value of wellbeing in the workplace
Wellbeing should be deeply embedded within the culture of a workplace and not something that’s a ‘once and done’ exercise or ‘tick’ in a box on an annual basis. In order to create real tangible value in the workplace, wellbeing should sit at the heart of the organisation and be led by the needs of the people within the business.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to workplace wellbeing. It’s a continuous process, evolving and adapting to ensure people feel valued and heard and most importantly it should be inclusive, so everyone feels they belong. A key factor is ensuring the wellbeing initiatives provided include something for everyone, regardless of background, age, gender or religion and with the specific aim to help people grow and thrive.
It's important that wellbeing is led by the people, for the people. Find out what your teams want by running pulse surveys and request feedback on your current initiatives. This will help to shape and create a culture where people have a real sense of pride and belonging.
It’s crucial that people can be themselves and bring their ‘whole self’ to work and trust plays a big part in this. Whether it’s creating safe spaces in meetings, where people can speak up without fear of judgement or talking openly with their People Managers about concerns or difficulties they are experiencing without stigma and in turn be treated with kindness, respect and empathy.
By offering genuine, considered wellbeing initiatives, you gain trust and loyalty from your team. People feel motivated and engaged as a result and know they are supported by the company and reassured it has their best interests at heart.
Oakland offers data and AI consulting, including data strategy, engineering, governance, analytics, and generative AI, with end-to-end services. To find out more, visit www.weareoakland.com
Listening and learning
For a long time, we’ve talked about wellbeing in a top-down way, often simply implementing programs and benefits that we thought would help. But what I realised is that without truly listening to the Spiral team, we’re just guessing.
In a post-pandemic work landscape, with the growth of hybrid working and changing work/life preferences it was clear that a one-size-fits-all approach just wouldn’t cut it anymore.
I wanted to move beyond the usual ‘box ticking’ wellness initiatives and genuinely understand what our people needed to thrive, both professionally and personally. So we took some time, we asked – and we listened.
What we learned from talking with individual team members was both eye-opening and incredibly valuable. Their feedback was honest and real, going way beyond requests for fresh fruit in the office!
Our people told us that flexibility wasn’t a perk – it was a necessity for managing their work/life balance and mental health. They spoke about the importance of psychological safety – feeling safe to speak up, take risks and be their authentic selves without fear of judgment.
We also heard loud and clear that transparent communication and consistent, meaningful feedback from managers were crucial for both their sense of value and career progression.
By creating this open channel for conversation our team gave us the roadmap we needed to build a wellbeing strategy that genuinely supports them, making it an integral part of our culture rather than just an add-on program.
Seeing the bigger picture
Wellbeing at Spiral goes far beyond the superficial perks – and that’s what makes our culture so special.
A great benefits package is always appreciated, but we know that what truly makes a difference is the feeling of being genuinely supported, valued and knowing you are in a safe stable environment.
That’s why we’ve focused on building a foundational culture rooted in respect for one another and the client. It’s about listening with empathy, respecting different perspectives and celebrating each individual for who they are and what they bring to the team.
We genuinely love all the characters and personalities that go to make up Spiral.
We are creating a strong sense of psychological safety within an environment of mutual trust where everyone feels safe to speak their mind, share ideas – and even make mistakes without fear of judgment.
This trust is what fuels our creativity, innovation and client service, allowing us to push boundaries and grow together.
With a flexible approach that respects personal and professional needs and a leadership team that leads by example, we’re creating a thriving community where each person can do their best work and have a fulfilling professional and personal life. This isn’t just about a happy workplace – it’s about a resilient, vibrant space where people can flourish.
Spiral's My Wellness Day initiative
My Wellness Day is an initiative that encourages everyone to take a dedicated day for themselves – whether that means diving into a hobby, spending time with family, or simply taking the time to recharge. This is not just an extra day off, it’s an investment in wellbeing.
The name says it all – it’s a clear signpost to Spiral’s wider culture of support. It’s not just another company benefit; it’s a real-life example of our commitment to mental and physical health.
Through this initiative Spiral is actively reinforcing the idea that wellbeing is valued and respected, creating a living tradition that proves our supportive culture isn’t just a mission statement, but an everyday reality that we all share and enjoy.
A commitment to Powering our People
We all know that when we’re at our best, things just go better. That’s why we know that wellbeing is fundamental to success.
Our company-wide approach is tangible and visible in real-life initiatives, like My Wellness Day. This simple but powerful initiative is a living example of our promise, a day set aside specifically to remind people to rest, recharge, and take care of what matters most to them.
It’s a day that perfectly encapsulates our belief that a vibrant, resilient team is built on a foundation of personal health and happiness. As we move forward, we’ll continue this journey together – listening and adapting to ensure Spiral remains a place where everyone can genuinely thrive in so many exciting ways.
