{"data":{"prismic":{"blog_article":{"article_type":"Opinion","title":[{"type":"heading1","text":"Elevating relationships above tasks in project management ","spans":[{"start":0,"end":58,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"}],"summary_text":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Michaela is one of our Delivery Leads, and she's seen it all when it comes to project management; the good, the bad and the awkward. One thing she's exceptionally good at is recognising the human aspect of every project, and using that skill to get things over the line. Find out how, here. ","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"}],"seodescription":null,"seotitle":null,"author":{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Person","name":"Michaela Hinton","job_title":"Delivery Lead","profile_picture":null},"published":"2024-03-19","image":{"dimensions":{"width":1808,"height":1016},"alt":null,"copyright":null,"url":"https://images.prismic.io/greatstate/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg?auto=format,compress"},"programming_language":null,"singleAspectRatioImage":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.779527559055118,"src":"/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/d47f1/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/b5b92/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg 200w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/3ff6e/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg 400w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/d47f1/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg 800w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/86173/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg 1200w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/a5547/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg 1600w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/1bd97/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.jpg 1808w","srcWebp":"/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/0c129/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/0e93d/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.webp 200w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/2259f/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.webp 400w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/0c129/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.webp 800w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/45222/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.webp 1200w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/1f191/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.webp 1600w,\n/static/0000a4be5e28e68c5d009c18d56e67dd/70720/ZfhqVw4qyfNhFxA9_Michsblog.webp 1808w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px","presentationWidth":800}}},"link":{"uid":"elevating-relationships-above-tasks"},"related_blogs":[{"blog":{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Blog_article","title":[{"type":"heading1","text":"Less is more: \nCopywriting for Gen Z","spans":[{"start":0,"end":36,"type":"strong"}]}],"summary_text":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Amy writes for a whole host of our clients across a huge range of digital touch points. Website, email, social; you name it, she's on it. Lots of businesses are already adapting for their next major user group, but a digital experience optimised for Gen Z is nothing without that move them through it. Read more on how to get it right. ","spans":[]}],"author":{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Person","name":"Amy Matthews","job_title":"Senior Copywriter"},"thumbnail":{"dimensions":{"width":1808,"height":1016},"alt":null,"copyright":null,"url":"https://images.prismic.io/greatstate/cea300ed-7611-4af4-864e-0f3d8805bf7b_genzblog.png?auto=compress,format"},"article_type":"Opinion","published":"2024-02-13","link":{"uid":"less-is-more-copywriting-for-gen-z"},"image":{"dimensions":{"width":1808,"height":1016},"alt":null,"copyright":null,"url":"https://images.prismic.io/greatstate/cea300ed-7611-4af4-864e-0f3d8805bf7b_genzblog.png?auto=compress,format"},"_meta":{"uid":"less-is-more-copywriting-for-gen-z"}}},{"blog":{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Blog_article","title":[{"type":"heading1","text":"State of Social 02: Your essential February updates","spans":[{"start":0,"end":51,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"}],"summary_text":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Living, breathing, and digesting social media is what our Social Media Manager, Verity, does on the daily. This month, she's back with a rundown of everything trending, changing, and updating in the fast-paced world of social media. So, if you’re after a February recap – let’s dive right in. ","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"}],"author":{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Person","name":"Verity Hyde","job_title":"Social Media Manager"},"thumbnail":{"dimensions":{"width":5524,"height":3104},"alt":null,"copyright":null,"url":"https://images.prismic.io/greatstate/65e5e044676dc480aae095e0_state-of-social-feb.jpg?auto=format,compress"},"article_type":"News","published":"2024-02-29","link":{"uid":"state-of-social-02"},"image":{"dimensions":{"width":5524,"height":3104},"alt":null,"copyright":null,"url":"https://images.prismic.io/greatstate/65e5e044676dc480aae095e0_state-of-social-feb.jpg?auto=format,compress"},"_meta":{"uid":"state-of-social-02"}}},{"blog":{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Blog_article","title":[{"type":"heading1","text":"Overcoming Institutional Folklore with CRO","spans":[{"start":0,"end":42,"type":"strong"}]}],"summary_text":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Most organisations have a 'Zach'. Zach has worked at the company for years; witnessing the comings and goings, the good times and the bad. Zach came up with a solid strategy in 2018 but that goose is no longer laying the golden egg. Now's the time to pivot, to overcome the institutional folklore, and look to Conversion Rate Optimisation. ","spans":[]}],"author":{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Person","name":"Sam Berger","job_title":"Digital Analyst"},"thumbnail":{"dimensions":{"width":1808,"height":1016},"alt":null,"copyright":null,"url":"https://images.prismic.io/greatstate/0e9b0819-6ce0-4b44-a55d-d283be8d4d1f_institutionalfolklore.png?auto=compress,format"},"article_type":"Opinion","published":"2024-02-01","link":{"uid":"overcoming-institutional-folklore-with-cro"},"image":{"dimensions":{"width":1808,"height":1016},"alt":null,"copyright":null,"url":"https://images.prismic.io/greatstate/0e9b0819-6ce0-4b44-a55d-d283be8d4d1f_institutionalfolklore.png?auto=compress,format"},"_meta":{"uid":"overcoming-institutional-folklore-with-cro"}}}],"body":[{"__typename":"PRISMIC_Blog_articleBodyText","type":"text","primary":{"text":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Sometimes on a project, things can get a little bumpy. ","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The client has a goal; the agency is fully on board and working hard to deliver. However, the path to delivery is full of all sorts of twists and turns. Lots of stakeholders, budget constraints, opinions, competing KPIs, and personalities can all simmer away in a melting pot that occasionally leads to an issue.","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"It's to be expected, and the mark of a good client/agency relationship is the agency’s ability to listen, process, and respond. The focus might be to produce a digital experience that exceeds expectations, but at the end of the day, it’s humans running the show; and that's much more complicated. ","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"So here, our super-experienced Delivery Lead, Michaela, offers up some of her wisdom on how and when to apply that human touch to a difficult technical situation.","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"heading2","text":"Let's work this out","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"In the fast-paced world of project delivery, where time and resources are limited, it's easy to get caught up in the details of tasks and procedures. However, there's a key factor that often gets overlooked but plays a crucial role in success: emotional intelligence (EI). The best delivery professionals aren't just good at managing tasks; they're also great at building genuine relationships with clients and team members. Let's dive into why prioritising human connections alongside operational efficiency is so important.","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"heading2","text":"Understanding Emotional Intelligence (EI)","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Emotional intelligence covers a range of skills like self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. It's about understanding and managing emotions in yourself and others, as well as navigating interpersonal relationships effectively.","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"heading2","text":"Why Relationships Matter","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"While technical skills and project management are essential, it's the softer skills tied to emotional intelligence that really make exceptional delivery managers stand out. They can:","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Understand Clients: Going beyond just meeting deadlines and budgets, they empathise with clients, understand their challenges, and align solutions with their goals.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":19,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Handle Stakeholders: Projects involve complex networks of stakeholders. Those with high EI can bridge communication gaps, manage expectations, and resolve conflicts positively.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":21,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Motivate Teams: Project success depends on the collective effort of teams. Managers with strong EI can inspire collaboration and shared purpose among team members.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":15,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Adapt to Change: In today's ever-changing business world, adaptability is key. Those with high EI are better at handling uncertainty and guiding teams through transitions smoothly.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":17,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"heading2","text":"Developing Emotional Intelligence","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Building emotional intelligence is an ongoing process that involves self-reflection, practice, and learning. Here are some strategies for improving EI in project delivery:","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Know Yourself: Reflect on your own emotions, triggers, and biases, and understand how they affect your work.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":15,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Listen Actively: Practice attentive listening to understand others' perspectives and show empathy in your interactions.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":17,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Resolve Conflicts: Learn constructive conflict resolution techniques that focus on finding solutions that benefit everyone involved.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":18,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Encourage Feedback: Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings openly.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":20,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Keep Learning: Stay curious and seek out opportunities to learn more about emotional intelligence and how to apply it in your work.","spans":[{"start":0,"end":15,"type":"strong"}],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"heading2","text":"In Conclusion","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Success in project delivery isn't just about meeting deadlines and technical requirements; it's about building genuine relationships, recognising the human aspect of every project, and using emotional intelligence to overcome challenges and inspire excellence. By valuing EI alongside technical skills, delivery professionals can make a real difference, fostering strong client relationships and empowered, resilient teams.","spans":[],"direction":"ltr"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Like the sound of the way Michaela tackles project management? Get in touch today to speak the team about your digital customer experience project. ","spans":[{"start":63,"end":75,"type":"hyperlink","data":{"link_type":"Web","url":"https://www.greatstate.co/contact/","target":"_blank"}}],"direction":"ltr"}]}}],"_meta":{"uid":"elevating-relationships-above-tasks"}}}},"pageContext":{"isCreatedByStatefulCreatePages":false,"rootQuery":"\n  query PrismicBlogArticleByDocumentID($uid: String!) {\n    prismic {\n      blog_article(uid: $uid, lang: \"en-gb\") {\n        ...prismicBlogArticleFields\n      }\n    }\n  }\n","id":"ZfhsZxIAAAdxLoxO","lang":"en-gb","uid":"elevating-relationships-above-tasks","alternateLanguages":[]}}