The Festival of Happiness 2023: Happy Agencies Are Indeed Successful Agencies
Alliance of Independent Agencies
The Alliance is the Uk's body representing future thinking entrepreneurial and independent marketing agencies.
As the curtains fall on The Festival of Happiness 2023, we carry with us the resounding echo of the day's theme: "Happy agencies are successful agencies". It's been a day where industry experts and enthusiasts converged to unravel the symbiotic relationship between workplace happiness and agency success.
The day kicked off with a warm welcome from Isabel Odlin MCIPD and Nicola Kemp , setting an anticipative tone for the event. Soon after, the air buzzed with laughter during Lotte Mikkelsen 's Laughing Yoga session, a fitting opening act that not only broke the ice but demonstrated the power of joy in fostering connectivity.
Annabel Dunstan (she/her) MPRCA , CEO & Founder of Question & Retain , delved into the importance of joy and the profound impact of getting to know your colleagues on a deeper level. This sentiment was further underscored by the Wellbeing Tracker Findings 2023 presented by Isobel Hunt from Opinium , which revealed insightful trends and highlighted the importance of prioritising staff wellbeing. “More are wanting to keep their mental health issues to themselves, jumping by 12% from last year” with “19% finding their job more stressful than last years score of 18%”. With over a third of marcom workers experiencing burnout in the last year, it is imperative that agencies come together to support those staff, however, only 49% of survey respondents were recorded as being supported at their workplace.
Lastly, there is a decrease in those feeling able to talk openly and get the support they need regarding mental health issues at work. Overall, mental wellbeing among workers remains relatively stable and higher than the UK average, yet there's a concerning trend of fewer people taking time off for mental health compared to physical health, and an increase in those preferring to keep their struggles private. Additionally, while a third have faced burnout, only half felt somewhat supported, underscoring a worrying decline in the perception of workplace mental health seriousness, indicating a need for employers to take more proactive and supportive measures.
The morning sessions culminated with a panel led by Louise Aston from Business in the Community , alongside Becca Rawlings , Sharon Baker PCC , and Lisa LLoyd , who collectively emphasised the value of a thriving workforce. They shed light on creating environments where employees flourish, an investment that unquestionably pays dividends in productivity and innovation. The NABS panel session shortly followed featuring Sue Todd , CEO of NABS, Louise Scodie , Senior PR and Communications Manager, and Lorraine Jennings-Creed , Director of Wellbeing Services and Culture Change, was a highlight of the day. They engaged in a meaningful discussion about mental wellness within our industry, emphasising the importance of authenticity and the pursuit of belonging at work. The panel shared insights on the progress made in 2023 and offered strategies for involving employees in a culture that supports their wellbeing. This session underlined NABS' commitment to fostering a sense of community and support in the workplace. The consensus of the session was that in supporting the wellbeing of UK employees, the potential to significantly enhance the UK economy is valued at between £130 to £370 billion uplift to GDP, this is the annual equivalent of between £4,000-12,000 per UK employee. The size of the prize is big enough that capturing even 20% would lead to a substantial improvement in UK GDP.
After a lively post-lunch vocal icebreaker with Kaya Herstad-Carney , attendees were re-energised, and the sessions resumed with the polarising Andy Coulson who ran us through his thoughts regarding crisis management and how agency leaders can thrive in times of crisis. We then moved on to Nicola Kemp exploring the critical topic of 'Creative Crisis in Confidence'. This was an exploration into the barriers that stifle creativity and how confidence plays a pivotal role in overcoming these challenges.
Reeha Alder 's session on authenticity in the workplace resonated deeply with the audience, advocating for environments where individuals can show up as their true selves. This concept is not just a mere luxury but a fundamental component of a healthy, dynamic agency culture.
The day concluded with a compelling presentation on 'The Data and Insight of Employee Happiness' by Matthew Phelan from The Happiness Index. Their data-driven insights provided a solid backing to the notion that happy employees are the backbone of a prosperous agency. Employee happiness significantly boosts productivity, reduces absenteeism, and improves performance, thereby directly contributing to a company's financial success and not merely serving as a 'fluffy' metric.
The Key Takeaway:
Throughout the day, each session wove into the next, creating a tapestry of evidence and real-world examples that supported the central theme. It became clear that happiness in the workplace goes beyond just feel-good factors; it is a strategic imperative.
The Festival of Happiness 2023 was a testament to the fact that when agencies invest in the wellbeing of their people, they are not just enhancing lives but also fortifying their businesses against the inevitable challenges of the industry.
In the words of many speakers from the day, and as a conclusive thought, it's evident that agencies that foster a culture of happiness enjoy a ripple effect of success. They attract and retain top talent, inspire greater creativity, and drive higher engagement, which inevitably leads to superior performance and sustainable growth.
In the evolving landscape of the advertising industry, where change is the only constant, The Festival of Happiness has highlighted a universal truth: cultivating joy is not just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do. As we reflect on the wealth of knowledge and experiences shared, we're reminded that indeed, happy agencies are not just a utopian ideal; they are a blueprint for successful agencies.
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Our Speakers:
Andy Coulson - andy@coulsonpartners.com
Annabel Dunstan - annabel@questionandretain.co.uk
Becca Rawlings - becca.rawlings@totalmedia.co.uk
Isabel Odlin - isabel@hubagency.co.uk
Isobel Hunt - isobelhunt@opinium.com
Kaya Harstad-Carney - kaya@kayamusic.com
Lisa Lloyd - lisa@itstimeforchange.co.uk
Lorraine Jennings-Creed - L.jennings@nabs.org.uk
Lotte Mikkelsen - lotte@unitedmind.co.uk
Louise Aston - Louise.Aston@bitc.org.uk
Louise Scodie - l.scodie@nabs.org.uk
Matt Phelan - matt@thehappinessindex.com
Nicola Kemp - nicola.k@creativebrief.com
Reeha Adler - reeha@mightyyou.co.uk
Sharon Baker - sharon@flydontwalk.com
Sue Todd - s.todd@nabs.org.uk
Co-Founder The Happiness Index | x2 Workplace Happiness Author | Keynote Speaker
1y1) Thanks for having me 2) thank you for prioritising the importance of this subject
I enable successful, smart, creative founders and leaders to live and work with more meaning and less stress. It's time to be radical! Live from a new perspective, achieve with ease, enjoy being uniquely you.
1yA brilliant day - as ever, inspiring and exciting to see the light shone so brightly on the importance of people feeling good about themselves, in an industry where the success of an agency IS their talent. Everyone knows this, but not everyone knows what to do about it, so to be able to share some practical ways to help the team thrive was a privilege. So much to takeaway... Thanks to everyone on the FOH team. Great job!