A Study in Human Behavior and Relationships

By Jaye Wilcox, MBA

As the often-told tale goes, I unexpectedly stumbled into the field of proposal management. After graduating from college with a counseling degree, I was eager to move forward and leave my college years behind. However, it was the year 2010, and job opportunities were few and far between. I accepted the first corporate offer I received, which happened to be in data entry. I loved it. My enthusiasm to learn and excel paid off, leading to a promotion within six months. I held a few other positions at that company before meeting a colleague who managed the proposal process, who, in turn, saw my potential and offered me a job in the “proposal world.” I had no idea what I was walking into.

I studied counseling in my undergraduate, thinking I’d go into mediation or something similar. I didn’t expect the skills I gained in college to transfer so seamlessly when I entered the proposal world. Yet, to my surprise, the time I spent studying human behavior and relationships has proven invaluable in my current role.

While a significant portion of my job involves screen time—reading, writing, revising, reviewing, designing, formatting, and reformatting—I also engage considerably with people. Behind each proposal lies a diverse team with various personalities, communication styles, and writing approaches. In this context, interpersonal skills are as vital as any technical skill. Working in this capacity has highlighted the importance of understanding the perspectives and backgrounds of my colleagues, as well as effective communication.

The workplace is a mixture of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. This diversity often enriches our work by offering a wide range of perspectives and strengths, but it can also present challenges that demand adaptability and effective communication. Sometimes, I find myself in meetings with outgoing, talkative groups, where conducting kickoff meetings or draft reviews is easy. On other occasions, it’s more like being in a room full of silence. The ability to adapt to varying communication styles and personalities is crucial when managing the proposal process, as input from every team member is essential.

The skills I acquired in college, which focused on navigating diverse personalities toward a common goal, transitioned into my professional career and, subsequently, into my personal life. Over the years, I’ve observed how the lessons learned at work have influenced my relationships.

By practicing adaptability in my interaction with different personalities at work, I’ve also learned to use those abilities at home. It’s become evident that I can communicate more effectively with my family and friends because of the diverse communication styles I’ve encountered in my professional life. I am genuinely grateful for this, as it enables me to navigate personal relationships with ease, avoid conflicts, and cultivate healthy connections with those around me, both at work and at home.