It wasn’t long ago Colton was known as more of a silent type, listening to the conversation and observing quietly. While you may still not hear him regularly chatting it up, he has grown into a great communicator. When he speaks, it is articulate and concise, said with purpose, and people listen. He asks thought-provoking questions, always seeking to understand and respectfully challenging groupthink.

Colton has expanded his role from blogging to include SEO-focused writing, website building, PPC management, YouTube advertising, digital strategist, and more. He’s done this by communicating openly about his desires to grow and by seeking the wisdom and experience of others, many of whom are on other teams doing something totally different from what Colton does.

Colton often has major workload on his plate, but he is calm and approachable, adapting quickly and humbly asking for help when he needs it. He insists on prioritizing the work with the greatest impact, and the team knows they can rely on him to share his ideas courageously and keep them thinking about the future.

Way to drive business results, as well as your own development with open communication, Colton. We are pleased to recognize you as our Q3 “Communicate” award winner!

The Interview

What is your role at Clickstop?

Digital Marketing Strategist

How long have you worked at Clickstop?

2 Years

How did you feel upon being recognized for this award?

Really surprised at first, then slightly embarrassed for a second, then super proud, and lastly just thankful for all my awesome coworkers who took the time to recognize me.

What do you believe has led up to this recognition?

In hindsight, I think it was a couple of things – asking thoughtful questions with the goal of better understanding the perspective of others, while also seeking to lean into their experience and knowledge.  Also, being concise in my communication in order to stay nimble and keep projects moving forward.

Have you had struggles within this Core Trait?  If so, what have they been and how did you overcome them?

I think we’ve all struggled with remaining calm and communicable in stressful situations, myself included. I’ve also been the type of person that is often hesitant to seek help from others, naively hoping I can get the best solutions without getting other perspectives. Both of these can be overcome when you’re on a team with a high sense of trust and comradery. The more time I spend working with my team on challenging projects with tight deadlines, the more confident and comfortable I’ve gotten in my communication.

My advice for others struggling with this is to start small. Promise yourself that the next time a halfway constructive thought or question crosses your mind during a meeting, or just a daily observation, that you will speak up with confidence and respect. Also continue to build trust and close ties with those around you and around our building. You can start small with this too. The closer you get, the easier it is to share information freely, provide meaningful feedback, and discuss the hard stuff openly until you reach the best solution.  Realize it’s in the best interest of everyone and that there are no dumb questions.  Resolve to say the hard stuff and be prepared to have it returned in kind.

Why is this Core Trait important to the success of Clickstop?

Communication is the glue that keeps all the different initiatives at Clickstop moving forward. Without it we would miss out on important opportunities for efficiency and growth.

What brought you to Clickstop? 

The entrepreneurial atmosphere. Hearing about how USCC went from a small business in a garage to a thriving company with even more opportunity for growth. I wanted to learn how it happened and be part of making it continue to happen.

What keeps you at Clickstop?

Challenging work, a ton of opportunity for more growth, and the people and environment that make coming to work fun.

Why should others want to work at Clickstop?

There’s never a dull moment. If you like it when something new happens every day, this is the place to be. Plus, there’s a culture and a support system unlike any other here.

What is the coolest/craziest place you ever been to?

Caye Caulker, Belize. It’s a 1-mile-long island in the Caribbean Sea and I’ve stayed over 2 months there.

Do you a nickname(s)? If so, what is it? Why is it your nickname?

My family always called me Fuzzy growing up. I guess my hair was really soft and fun for my sisters to rub when I was a baby.

If you could never have to do one chore for the rest of life, what would it be?

Pay bills.