Design leaders need to play a lot of roles in order to succeed. This talk shares the four archetypes of the Design Leader: Coach (managing down), Diplomat (managing across), Champion (managing up), and Architect (shaping orgs as they scale.
9. Provide a vision for success
COACH
Tell the broad story, let the team figure out the details
Focus on outcomes, not output
Maintain optimism and positivity
10. Teach technique in the various methods
Lead constructive critique…and speak last
Team stuck? Reframe the problem
Provide guidance
COACH
11. One size never fits all
Acknowledge strengths and weaknesses
Let team members be themselves
People, not resources
COACH
12. Strength in diversity
Common mistake is to build your team with people just like you
Seek people with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences
COACH
13. It’s how we learn
If you cover for them, that becomes a crutch
Let them mess up
COACH
14. Team members notice when others our allowed to slide
Make clear what’s not acceptable
If you’re aiming just for “likability,” you’re not doing your job
But hold them accountable
COACH
17. Appreciate cross-functional peers’ perspectives, clients’ perspectives
(most folks still don’t really know what designers do,
and someone needs to tell them)
Diplomat
Engage with non-designers
18. Design shouldn’t be a black box that
receives requirements and spits out artifacts
Welcome people into your work;
make yourself a part of their work
Diplomat
True collaboration, no agency model
19. Diplomat
Assume
positive intent
Avoid victim stances
Everybody is doing their best
Diplomacy doesn’t mean being a pushover
Have principles and purpose
Stand strong for
your ideals
23. Don’t let your team get run over or spread too thin
Champion
24. Fight for your team’s good work
Stand up to executives who don’t know better
Provide cover for team members’ worthwhile pursuits
Champion
Protector
25. Don’t give up on what your team needs –
staffing, hardware, software, facilities, policies, education, pay
Champion
Relentless
29. Figure out your organizational model
Architect
Make
an
Appointment
Buyer
Design
Team
Seller
Design
Team
S S
D D
TL
S S
D D
TL
Growth
Seller Tools
Search/
Browse
Product
Page
Shopping
Cart and
Checkout
Reviews
Buyer
Experience
Seller
Experience
D
30. Define Roles and Build a Levels Framework
Levels
Job postings
Candidate
assessment
Training
Performance
reviews
Recruiting
and hiring
Professional
Development
Team
composition
Delivery
Architect