Projects often fail not because the technical work is impossible, but because the human elements break down. Deadlines slip when communication goes silent. Confusion grows when roles aren’t clear. Motivation dips when teams lose their sense of connection. Anyone who has led a project knows that success depends more on relationships and trust, than on schedules and spreadsheets.
And trust isn’t always built in the meeting room. It’s forged in shared experiences, especially when there’s a challenge to be met together, perhaps on site. I often joke with my partner that you should never marry someone until you’ve put a tent up together and camped. It’s a test of patience, organisation, and humour all rolled into one.
When friends gather to go camping, there’s always that moment as dusk falls and it’s time to light the fire. Maybe the campsite has provided a firepit and wood, or perhaps the group needs to gather kindling sticks around the site. Picture the scene: the sun setting over the hillside, tents pitched and ready for sleep, people settling into chairs, the fire becoming the centre of the circle.
For thousands of years, humans have told stories in campfire circles. Stories do more than pass the time: they teach and share solutions to problems, celebrate successes, and help people see themselves as part of something bigger. A story reframes difficulty into meaning. It softens the voice of the judge (“you failed”) or inner critic (“we failed”) into a collaborative narrative of growth (“we learned”). In the glow of a fire, we listen and absorb those stories from a place of safety and belonging. It may feel like a ritual of the past, yet the dynamics of the campfire circle are alive in every project team today. How…?
Lighting the fire: gathering resources
A campfire doesn’t light itself. It takes planning: dry wood, kindling, a spark, and someone responsible for tending the flame. In projects, this mirrors the careful allocation of resources and the clarity of roles. Who gathers information? Who sets direction? Who keeps momentum alive when the energy starts to flicker? Identifying the right resources enables the fire to burn steadily – and your project to run smoothly.
Roasting the marshmallows: safe organisation
It’s not just about building the fire itself – organisation shows up in the little details around the fire too. Someone needs to hand out kebab sticks for marshmallows, keep an eye on the children so they don’t singe their fingers, and make sure there are enough chocolate biscuits ready for the s’mores. Without that quiet coordination, chaos soon creeps in. The same is true in projects: some of the unseen structures and foresight prevent small problems from escalating into major issues and help everyone get involved safely and successfully.
Storytelling around the fire: communication
Around the campfire, stories are more than entertainment. They are how we pass on lessons, risks, and opportunities. In project teams, communication plays the same role. Clear updates, shared experiences, and even cautionary tales prevent mistakes from repeating and keep everyone aligned. Without a central story or two, the conversations drift.
Camaraderie: opportunities born of connection
Something happens when people gather in the glow of a campfire. The edges between individuals soften. Laughter is shared. Trust deepens. In projects, this camaraderie is not a luxury; it’s the birthplace of collaboration and innovation. When team members feel connected, opportunities surface that would otherwise stay hidden. New ideas are voiced, problems are solved creatively, and the group carries each other through setbacks.
Navigation: keeping the flame alive
The fire demands constant attention. Logs must be added at the right time, smoke must be managed, and sparks kept under control. Similarly, a project needs continual navigation, course correction, monitoring progress, and adapting to conditions. Leaders act like fire-tenders: not forcefully directing the flame, but guiding it, so the team’s energy is not wasted.
When dawn comes, the fire has burned down, but something remains. The stories linger in memory. The warmth of connection stays with the group. In projects, the same is true. Long after milestones are reached, what endures is not just the deliverable, but the relationships built, the lessons shared, and the confidence to face the next challenge together. Better project management develops from there.
Your journey to better project management
At Coron, we believe every project is a campfire moment. Your team needs structure, communication, resources, camaraderie, and guidance. But above all, it needs people who understand that projects are not just about outputs—they are about the stories teams create together along the way. Talk to us about the coaching we can offer to support your teams or sign up for our newsletters. Contact us with a message if you want to hear more about Base Camp for your team or Pathfinder for yourself as a project professional.