Behind the scenes: The Personal Traits That Fuel My Success in Digital Project Management
Discover the essential qualities that have guided me through agency life, as revealed by the honest feedback from those who know me best.
Hello, everyone. Today, I wanted to do something a bit different.
Recently, I reached out to some of my colleagues from both my current workplace and some of my previous agencies to receive feedback.
Now, I don't think this happens nearly enough, as it takes a team you know and trust to be able to do that without people potentially taking offence, or the right feedback structure might not be in place where you work.
I figured this exercise could give you some insights into some of my behaviors and personal traits that have helped me deliver amazing work over the years.
Now, it’d be pretty boring if I just asked them, ‘What do you think I do well?’ and ‘What should I improve on?’ so I took some cues from a great book called Will It Fly by Pat Flynn. If you have a new idea you want to launch, go check it out, btw.
So, I asked several colleagues, past and present, what they think my “superpowers” are. If I’m honest, I think what they said was both humbling and enlightening, and I can’t wait to share it with you. L
Let's dive in.
Proactivity
First up, they mentioned my proactivity. One of my colleagues said that I've consistently sought out opportunities to improve, and I'm not afraid to take on a challenge without being asked.
They pointed out that this is a key leadership skill, transferable across any position in any business.
"It's something that helps him stay ahead of potential issues and manage his team effectively."
From my perspective, being proactive and staying one step ahead of others will ensure smooth project management and significantly reduce your stress levels when faced with unexpected challenges.
Positivity
My positivity is another trait they highlighted. In times of stress or pressure, it's easy to get bogged down, but my colleagues noted that I tend to see solutions and paths of action that others might miss.
This positivity, they said, “helps to lift the team and keeps things on track.”.
It's something I'm really proud of because, for me, a positive mindset is crucial to keeping the energy flowing, especially when immovable deadlines start to rear their ugly heads.
Malleability
"One quality that really stood out was malleability. He’s not one to stick rigidly to a plan if the situation changes.”
My colleagues appreciated that I'm always ready to offer new options when a current path is no longer feasible or might be delayed.
This adaptability keeps both me and the project on track, ensuring the best possible outcomes for everyone involved AND the project's success.
Thirst for knowledge
"Then there’s his thirst for knowledge." One of my ex-colleagues mentioned that just by reaching out for their feedback, I demonstrated my constant drive to learn and grow.
Whether it's about myself or a particular subject, I'm always on the lookout for new information.
"He rarely sits still for long and doesn't need any pushing to start something new," they said. That’s probably because I’m a self-starter at heart, both at work and in life.
My favorite phrase at the moment, btw, is “being a prolific learner.”
I love the idea of always wanting to learn something new and feed my knowledge bank.
Cuts through noisy problems
"One of the things that really resonates with me is his ability to cut through noisy problems using UX and CX skills.”.
They mentioned that I’m excellent at getting to and understanding user pain points.
"Getting to the path of a problem, asking "why," and seeing things from someone else's perspective always help him see the bigger picture and come up with a better, more impactful solution."
This is something I’ve personally worked hard on, and it’s great to see it making an impact.
Finding patterns
They also appreciated my knack for finding patterns—whether it’s in data, behavior, or even on project timelines.
“Being able to pull insights from these patterns is something not everyone can do, and it’s an ability that I’ve applied across many projects."
Now, I make sure that we can track our project objectives by using various types of data.
That includes feedback from both users and the numbers that drive our funnel too. I love analysing data to see how we can improve our products, increase our conversions and create a better experience.
Active listening
Another point that came up was my active listening skills. They noticed that I don’t just listen passively but really engage with what others are saying, which, as they pointed out, might be why people enjoy working with me.
Active listening is crucial to building strong, collaborative relationships, and it’s something I strive to practice, every day. And there is nothing worse than someone waiting to jump in and express their point of view in a bullish manner during meetings.
My ability to think creatively and pivot when necessary was one of the most flattering comments I received. Whether it’s tackling something we’ve never done before or quickly adapting to a new direction, they appreciated how I focus on the exciting parts rather than getting bogged down by the unknown.
By the way, I am quietly working on the difficult parts in the background, making sure I know which are the riskiest and need to start quickly to avoid delays later on.
Calm and collected nature
And finally, they mentioned my calm and collected nature. “In times of decision-making, he always takes a moment to consider collective input before making a final choice.”
It’s about making the best of the talents around me and involving the right people to solve the problem. This approach, they said, is what makes me unique and magnetic in a team setting.
Ha, I love that word "magnetic." But maybe not every day though, admittedly!
Hearing all of this feedback has been pretty humbling. As a reminder of my strengths and their impact on coworkers.
So hopefully, you can take the feedback and apply it to your work too.
Recap
In summary, the points were as follows:
Proactivity
Positivity
Malleability
Thirst for knowledge
Finding patterns
Active listening
Thinking outside the box
Keeping calm and collected
So, a big thank you to my colleagues who shared their thoughts.
And thank you to everyone who has listened. If you enjoyed this or found it insightful, please do share it and subscribe for more content. It really helps me to add value to you and everyone else.
Keep pushing forward, stay positive, and don’t be afraid to take on that next challenge at work and in life.