Draven McConville On What Project Managers Can Learn From Startup Founders

Draven McConville is a man who knows a thing or two about resilience and maintaining a growth mindset through challenges.

Coming from homelessness at 18 to selling his software company Klipboard to industry giant Kerridge Commercial Systems, the founder turned investor has faced his share of obstacles. At 19, he was managing a nightclub with 110 staff — a crash course in leadership that taught him respect comes from actions, not titles.

The Northern Irish entrepreneur, who still regularly joins sales calls incognito to stay connected with customers, shares his insights on building mental toughness and adapting to change in the startup world.

Embrace Uncertainty

Project managers typically work with defined scopes and timelines. But when the landscape is changing as quickly as it is today, the traditional approach needs adaptation.

At Klipboard, we learned to build flexibility into our processes without sacrificing accountability. When GitHub Copilot dramatically increased our development speed, for instance, we had to rapidly adjust our planning and delivery frameworks.

Get in the Trench and Lead from the Front

One of the most valuable practices I maintained was regularly joining sales calls without revealing I was the CEO. It was a type of direct exposure to customer needs and challenges that proved invaluable for decision-making.

Project managers can adopt this approach by regularly engaging with end-users and team members at all levels, rather than relying solely on status reports and meetings.

Build a Culture of Open Communication

The success of any project depends on creating an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing both successes and failures.

Our mantra at Klipboard was simple: “I don’t care if you make mistakes. I care if you don’t tell me about them and what you’ve learned.”

It’s an approach I highly recommend since it helps identify potential issues before they become critical problems.

Focus on Outcomes, Not Process

While processes are important, they should serve outcomes rather than dictate them. Focusing on providing value to our customers rather than rigid methodologies allowed us to adapt more quickly to changing circumstances.

For project managers, this might mean being flexible with methodologies based on team and project needs.

Practical Tips

1. Take regular temperature checks: Run informal check-ins alongside formal project meetings to keep your finger on the pulse of your team.
2. Flexible planning: Build adaptability into your project plans while maintaining clear objectives. As they say, failing to plan is planning to fail.
3. Stakeholder management: Invest time in building relationships before you need them.
4. Empower people: Give team members the autonomy to solve problems their way, which helps build personal responsibility.
5. Continuous learning: Stay current with technological changes affecting your industry and don’t be afraid to adapt.

Looking Forward

The lines between startup management and project management are blurring as organisations of all sizes face similar challenges of rapid change and technological disruption.

Success increasingly depends on building resilient teams that can adapt quickly while maintaining focus on core objectives.

Remember that leadership in disrupted environments isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about creating an environment where teams can innovate, adapt, and deliver value consistently.