What our PR firm – and clients – gained while trying to lose

Last June, I decided to try the weight loss app, Noom – something I heard about for a couple of years on NPR while driving to and from the office. I had finally wrapped my head around the fact I needed to commit to eating better and exercising more than my standard weekday take-out habit and Energizer bunny pace of errands on the weekend.

After about six weeks of tracking what I ate, staying within my calorie budget, and completing 150 minutes of Noom-suggested activity a week, the results started to show in how I looked and how I felt, and four of my co-workers wanted in. Four months later, the results were much more than the cumulative 100+ (yes!) pound loss. We created a physically and mentally healthier work environment that unleashed new collaboration and creativity – and our clients benefited.

Through March 12 – the last day in the office before the work-from-home order – we shared group lunches, taking turns bringing salad veggies, grilled steak, chicken or shrimp, fresh fruit, and hard-boiled eggs. We researched and tested recipes and hunted down lower calorie salad dressings and spicy pickles. We enjoyed sandwiches, chili, and frittata, fresh seasonal fruit, and sampled different seasonings. But more importantly, we were no longer hovered over our keyboards unwrapping lunch delivered in a bag – choices that were easily three or more times the calories of our shared meals.

Each lunch time, we sat together and talked, got to know each other a little better, like each other even more, and used the casual time to share ideas. For dessert, we walked a mile together. This unintentional team building was a fun bonding experience that reaped more rewards than the obvious – we communicated better, collaborated more, became more creative and productive, and this enhanced our work.

Unfortunately, like for most people, our daily interaction is now over Zoom for daily team video calls and MS Teams where side conversations include how much we are NOT following the Noom regimen we had enjoyed and mastered.

While it is challenging to focus on healthy eating habits when there are much bigger concerns in the world right now, here’s what I think. Everything we gained while we were trying to lose, remains intact. Our creativity and our resourcefulness are in overdrive as we navigate new ways to counsel our clients. This didn’t come from salad fixings or from meeting a shared goal to lose a few pounds. It came from the camaraderie and the collective excitement we feel as a team when we score a big article, come up with a new strategy to replace the industry shows that were cancelled, prepare for a launch even though everything is different, or kick off a new blog program.

There are many online collaboration tools that make it possible for businesses and individuals to remain connected. I’d argue, though, that nothing beats the office breakroom table and a shared meal for innovating about new ways to gain as we lose. I think we’re all looking forward to resuming and building on that powerful connection in person.

Learn More

Sign Up for Blog Updates

Recent Posts

skydive3.jpg
author avatar

About Joanne Stanway