Last week, the 7 Communications team enjoyed the beauty of Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON for an all-agency retreat that was equal parts strategy, creativity, and connection. Against a wintery backdrop, we reflected on the past, aligned for the future, and laid the groundwork for what promises to be an ambitious and transformative year.

Our theme, Staying Charged and Unstoppable, wasn’t just a slogan—it’s a mindset. One that defines how we approach challenges, embrace opportunities, and deliver exceptional results for our clients.

‍What Does It Mean to Stay Charged and Unstoppable?

‍Staying charged is more than just keeping up the energy—it’s about resilience and adaptability. Business, like life, throws us the unexpected, and the ability to reset, refocus, and come back stronger is the key to pushing boundaries. Staying charged is knowing when to pause and recalibrate to ensure we’re at our best. This fuels the kind of creativity and innovation that transforms good ideas into great ones and helps us tackle challenges with confidence and clarity.

Being unstoppable, on the other hand, is about facing obstacles head-on with purpose and determination. It’s a mindset of embracing challenges, guided by a vision, bolstered by teamwork, and driven by a shared belief in what’s possible. Together, these values are how we’ll deliver bold, creative programs without sacrificing the flawless execution our clients rely on.

‍A New Framework for Exceptional Thinking

‍One of the highlights, was a 90-minute workshop led by our Head of Strategy, David who introduced a fresh approach to problem-solving in real-time. Inspired by an IDEO framework, the session challenged us to rethink how we tackle obstacles, generate ideas, and make decisions.

The workshop reminded us of an essential truth: that every one on the team has the power to generate exceptional ideas and make strong choices. It’s what our clients expect, and it’s what we aim to deliver every single day.

Here’s a summary of the framework:

1. Clarify the Problem
   • What’s the gap between where we are and where we want to be?
   • What’s not working in the current scenario?
2. Frame a Strategic Question
   • Turn the problem into a 'How might we' statement.
   • Make it human-centric.
   • Explore the how and why to dig deeper.
3. Generate Possibilities
   • Think big and aim for multiple solutions.
   • Lean into design, prototype ideas, and focus on outcomes.
4. What Would Have to Be True?
   • Evaluate what’s critical for success.
   • For each possibility, identify what needs to be true for it to work.
5. Address Barriers
   • Pinpoint roadblocks and solve them to strengthen your ideas.
6. Test and Refine
   • Test your solutions to see what’s desirable, viable, and feasible.
7. Make the Choice
   • Move forward with clarity and confidence.

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This 7-step framework isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about uncovering opportunities, aligning creativity with strategy, and equipping ourselves to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.

Our retreat wasn’t about planning—it was about connecting. Seeing the energy and creativity in each of the rooms reminded us of the unique strengths every member of our team brings to the table. Whether it was collaborating on strategic goals, exploring new frameworks, laughing through team-building activities or the lip-sync of 'Dancing on my Own' on the team bus, the time we spent together was a powerful reminder of what makes 7 Communications extraordinary: our people.

Here’s to staying charged, unstoppable, and making big things happen in 2025. 🚀