lesson #6—being excellent from the get-go

You can be excellent at what you do from day one, and it has nothing to do with your hard skills. It's crystal clear that being good at the technical level is essential, but what will make you grow and advance in your career is how you handle yourself. Are you a good team player? Can you communicate effectively? Do you operate with honesty?

Excellence is not about perfection or striving for it, but about the way we choose to move. In excellence, there is room for error, a desire to grow, and a willingness to contribute.

These are my key soft skills to contribute to the project and the place I'm in:

#1: Willingness to learn

And not just about what pertains to your role. Learn things that may "have nothing to do with it," but will enrich your perspective and everything you bring to the table. Read and learn about culture, history, philosophy, business, finance, leadership, fiction—whatever it may be, but make sure to enrich your mental encyclopedia.

#2: Being present

It means being able to focus on your tasks and pay attention to the present moment. Practice active listening both in meetings and interactions with those around you, and try to reserve blocks of time on your calendar to stay focused (this makes a significant difference in productivity).

#3: Acknowledging mistakes and saying 'I don't know' (humility)

Hiding your mistakes only hinders your progress. Error is human, and the sooner we can communicate it, the better. Mistakes present themselves as opportunities for learning and improvement, and asking for help only makes you stronger as a professional.

#4: Practicing empathy

Connecting with others on an emotional level fosters trust, cooperation, and mutual respect—essential skills for teamwork. Practicing empathy allows you to step out of your own perspective and understand others' experiences and challenges—thus enabling you to provide solutions that address real needs of real people.

#5: Being a good person

It sounds basic, doesn't it? But it's crucial to be someone others can trust. There is immense value in being able to support others, rejoice in your colleagues' achievements, and offer words of encouragement when someone does something well. Feeling valued is not only nice but also helps us work better. It's as simple as not being mean-spirited :) Don't step on others, as that won't get you very far.

#6: Proactivity

Essentially, don't wait for someone to tell you what to do. Propose ideas, seek alternatives, do research on your own. Take ownership of your responsibilities and go at it confidently and faithfully.

#7: Flexibility and adaptability

Life is not always linear, especially in design processes. They depend on numerous factors (project context, budget, timelines, team composition, priorities, etc.). Being able to adapt to the context we are in is crucial in such a dynamic and diverse field. What's key here? Acting quickly and involving all stakeholders from the outset.