Sometimes the best reminders of how we work come from the simplest activities.
During their recent office team day, our Referencing team took a short break from BAU to run a “Paper Aeroplane Challenge.” What started as a quick paper-folding exercise rapidly became a design-led mini R&D sprint, complete with independent research, healthy debate, prototypes, and a surprising amount of competitive energy.
And yes… there were plane sound effects.
From paper-folding to problem-solving
At first glance, the task was simple: build a paper aeroplane and fly it as far as possible. But the way the session unfolded looked a lot like the way high-performing teams tackle real work:
- People researched ideas independently rather than defaulting to the first option
- Teams shared evidence, challenged assumptions, and compared trade-offs
- Everyone aligned on a final design, then committed fully to it
- Outcomes were measured collectively, not individually
It was a light-hearted break with serious teamwork underneath.
What we saw across the room
As the designs took shape, a few things stood out:
- Genuine collaboration as teams worked through different opinions to reach one decision
- Evidence-led thinking influencing which designs made the cut
- Creativity in both plane builds and plane names
- Confidence and ownership from folds to throws (including the occasional misfire)
- A strong sense of fun that brought everyone into the moment
Even a paper plane challenge can show you how a team communicates, makes decisions, and navigates disagreement.
The unexpected “fairness” debate
One of the most valuable moments came from an unplanned scenario: a team was unexpectedly down a person at the last minute. That sparked a lively debate about scoring: How do you keep things fair? What compromises make sense? How do you balance team spirit with competition?
The discussion was thoughtful, solutions-focused, and (importantly) respectful, proving that practical problem-solving isn’t reserved for big projects. It shows up anywhere teams care about doing things the right way.
The designs (and the results)
Teams rallied around a single shared design each, bringing their best thinking to the table. Plane names on the day included:
- Airy Potter
- Agni (meaning “Fire”)
- The Basic Dart
- O.L.A. Airlines
Across all throws, the collective distance reached 2,569 cm, with Team Agni taking the overall win (and yes, the bragging rights lived on beyond the final throw).
Bonus awards
To keep things fun, and recognise different strengths, we also had a few “bonus” categories:
- 🎨 Best-Looking Plane – Team Agni
- 🤝 Best Team Collaboration – O.L.A. Airlines
- 🧠 Most Evidence-Led Design – O.L.A. Airlines
- ♻️ Best Use of Limited Paper – Airy Potter, Agni and O.L.A. Airlines
It was a great reminder that “winning” can mean different things and that the habits behind strong performance are worth celebrating too.
Our values, in action
The real takeaway wasn’t the distance (although 2,569 cm is respectable). It was how clearly our values showed up throughout the session.
Be Curious
Teams explored multiple designs, tested ideas, and pushed beyond the obvious. The focus wasn’t just on what might work, but why it might work best.
Own It
Everyone took responsibility, from the build to the throw. People stood behind their choices, explained their reasoning, and owned the outcome as part of the team.
Succeed Together
This was the strongest theme of the day. Teams aligned on a single design even when opinions differed, and success was shared, not individualised.
A quick thank you to those supporting from home
Not everyone was in the office that day, and we want to recognise the colleagues who kept BAU moving, covering calls, picking up tasks, and ensuring nothing was missed while the team took a short break. That support mattered, and it made the session possible.
Why moments like this matter
Team days don’t need to be complicated to be valuable. With the right structure, even a short activity can reinforce how we collaborate, how we decide, and how we support one another, while giving people space to reset and reconnect.
In this case, a handful of paper, a little friendly competition, and a lot of teamwork created something we’ll remember for a long time (and we suspect the winning team will too).