The document discusses various topics related to team leadership and culture, including the benefits of creating a team charter, implementing a continuous critique process, facilitating collaboration, and cultivating a strong team culture. Some key points covered include defining a team's purpose, commitments, focus areas, and growth opportunities in a charter; assigning critique buddies to provide feedback on work; emphasizing servant leadership and setting people up for success; and remembering that leadership is more about the team than any individual. The overall message is that non-technical skills like these are important for team and life success.

2. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
The 3 C’s of Design
Russ Unger | @russu
Charters, Critique, & Culture

3. Russ Unger | @russu
Source: Justice League War

4. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
EVERY NEW LEADER, EVER:
Russ Unger | @russu
Where’s
the
Manual?
(Almost)

5. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas

6. Russ Unger | @russu
Source: Justice League War

7. Russ Unger | @russu
Therearenogrown-ups.Wesuspectthiswhenweare
younger,butcanconfirmitonlyoncewearetheoneswriting
booksandattendingparent-teacherconferences.
Everyoneiswingingit,somejustdoitmoreconfidently.
“
Pamela Druckerman
Source: NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/opinion/sunday/what-you-learn-in-your-40s.html

8. Russ Unger | @russu
Therearenomanagers.Wesuspectthiswhenweare
younger,butcanconfirmitonlyoncewearetheoneswriting
reviews,SOWs,slidedecksandattendingleadershipretreats.
Everyoneiswingingit,somejustdoitmoreconfidently.Everyoneiswingingit,somejustdoitmoreconfidently.
Source: NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/opinion/sunday/what-you-learn-in-your-40s.html
“
Pamela Druckerman(& Russ)

9. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
THE TEAM CHARTER

10. Russ Unger | @russu
What is a Team Charter?
Aunifyingplanthatateamagreestoasitsrulesof
engagementandgoalsandobjectives.
“

11. Russ Unger | @russu
OUR UX TEAM
You can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm standing by your side. I'll be
right behind. No one loves you more than I do, Put your hand in
mine.
I can see a part of me in you. A little something special that
comes shining through. I hear it in your laughter, And I feel it
when you cry, I will be right there for you, Until the day I die. You
can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on me.
No matter where you go. You can count on me.
TEAM PURPOSE
COMMITMENTS
TEAM FOCUS
•User Research
•Interaction Design
•Information Architecture
•Information Design
•Prototyping
•Usability Testing
AREAS OF GROWTH
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
PERCEPTION OF TEAM
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
Image Source © Time Inc.
It’s Like a Persona. For Your Team.

12. Russ Unger | @russu
It Requires A Lot of This

13. Russ Unger | @russu
It Involves Defining All of This…

14. Russ Unger | @russu
Focus Areas
• WhataretheTypesof WorkWe
DONOTDo/DoNOTWantto
Do?
• WhataretheTypesof Work
WeDo/WanttoDo?
• User Research
• Interaction Design
• Information Architecture
• Information Design
• Prototyping
• Usability Testing
WHAT WE DO

15. Russ Unger | @russu
Team Purpose
• Whatdoesthisteamdo?
• Whatarewegoodat?
• Whatshouldwebeknownfor?
The UX team works with our customers to create useful
and usable designs that meets the needs of our users
and serves the business goals and objectives. We
understand our users--their needs, behaviors and
motivations and provide insight into how they use the
products that we design.
OUR UX TEAM

16. Russ Unger | @russu
Team Commitment to Each Other
• HowDoWeWanttoWork
Together?
• WhatAreOurExpectationsof
EachOther?
The UX team works with our customers to create useful
and usable designs that meets the needs of our users
and serves the business goals and objectives. We
understand our users--their needs, behaviors and
motivations and provide insight into how they use the
products that we design.
We work with each other to share our knowledge and
grow and strengthen the team in all aspects of UX, and
beyond. We acknowledge and respect our peers, their
opinions, and the value of their work. We will be critical
of work product, yet not the person doing the work.
OUR UX TEAM

17. Russ Unger | @russu
Perception of the Team by Others
• HowDoWeWantOthersto
ViewOurTeam?
• HowDoWeBuildthis
Perception?
• HowDoWeKnowWe’re
There?
Experts About Our
Users
PERCEPTION HOW TO CREATE ACHIEVED BY
•Increase research activities
•Identify opportunities to build
usability testing awareness
and activities
•Including clients in the user-
related activities to show
them our process and
expose them to users more
frequently
•Increase the amount of client
collaboration that includes
user discussions
•Common theme/voice for UX
team
•Colleagues request our
expertise in speaking to
customers
•Colleagues and customers
recommend the UX Team’s
expertise to our colleagues
and customers

18. Russ Unger | @russu
Areas of Growth / Improvement
• WhereDoWeNeedMore
Experience?
• WhatistheRationaleforthe
Need?
• HowWillWeKnowWhen
We’veAchievedtheGrowth?
Experience Mapping
GROWTH AREA RATIONALE ACHIEVED BY
•Gets everyone involved in
identifying touchpoints
•Visually describes what the
user’s journey looks like
•Tell stories and craft
narratives from the user’s
point of view
•Orient teams around a
shared understanding of the
journey
•Expand on scenarios,
personas, and mental models
•Engaging in 1-3 Experience
Mapping activities this year
•Proving value through the
activities by stakeholder
approvals

19. Russ Unger | @russu
…And Then You Sign It.
WeAllAgreetoAllofThis!
AGREED UPON BY

20. Russ Unger | @russu
OUR UX TEAM
You can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm standing by your side. I'll be
right behind. No one loves you more than I do, Put your hand in
mine.
I can see a part of me in you. A little something special that
comes shining through. I hear it in your laughter, And I feel it
when you cry, I will be right there for you, Until the day I die. You
can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on me.
No matter where you go. You can count on me.
TEAM PURPOSE
COMMITMENTS
TEAM FOCUS
•User Research
•Interaction Design
•Information Architecture
•Information Design
•Prototyping
•Usability Testing
AREAS OF GROWTH
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
PERCEPTION OF TEAM
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
Image Source © Time Inc.
It’s Like a Persona. For Your Team.

21. Russ Unger | @russu
It’s Like a Persona. For Your Team.
Photos Courtesy of Boon Chew

22. Russ Unger | @russu
It Can Look Like This

23. Russ Unger | @russu
Recap: Benefits of A Team Charter
• IdentifiesYourTeam’sPurpose
• DefinestheTeamCommitmenttoEachOther
• ClearlyArticulatesAreasof Focus&Expertise
• AcknowledgesAreasof Growth/Improvement
• ExplainsHowtheTeamWantstobePerceived
• ProvidesUnifiedAgreement
UX
^

24. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
CRITIQUE
Image Source © Time Inc.

25. Russ Unger | @russu
New to Critique? Start Here.
Aaron Irizarry & Adam Connor
DiscussingDesign.com

26. Russ Unger | @russu
The Problem
Me
HowdoImakecritiqueapartof our
culture,asaformalizedprocess?

27. Russ Unger | @russu
Eachoneteachone.
“
Kim Goodwin
many

28. Russ Unger | @russuRuss Unger | @russu
Critique
Buddies
WTF are
?
(Now calling it “Continuous Critique”)

29. Russ Unger | @russu
The Setup
L
BBB
L
BBB
M
• Select“CritiqueLeads”
• NominateCritiqueLeads
• SelectTeamsof 3-4Buddies
• LeadsChoose“Teams”
• FocusonConnectingPeople
WhoDon’tNormallyWork
Together
2-3

30. Russ Unger | @russu
How It Works
• (Bi-)Weekly30minutemeetingswithCritiqueLeads&Buddies
• Adhocmeetingsasneededandasavailable
• Critiqueshouldworkbothways
• (Bi-)WeeklyCritiqueTeamMeetings
• All3-4membersmeetingatonceforgroup
critique
• Everyoneshouldparticipate
B B B L
T L
B B B L
T L

31. Russ Unger | @russu
1:1 Meetings
• Startsveryinformally
• Gettoknoweachother
• Reviewof what’sbeingworkedon,etc.
• DrivenbytheCritiqueLead

32. Russ Unger | @russu
1:1 Meetings
• Shiftsto (slightly)formal
• Agendas,morestructured
pitch/presentation
• LedbytheCritiqueBuddy

33. Russ Unger | @russu
Critique Group Meetings
• CritiqueLeadsSchedule
• HappensBi-Weekly-ish
• TeamMembersSign-upfor
10-minutetimeslots
• Anythingrequiringadditional
canbecoveredin1:1meetings
Image Source: https://www.andertoons.com/phone/cartoon/3122/were-playing-teleconference

34. Russ Unger | @russu
All-Team Critique Meetings
• …Stillkindof workingonthis:-)
• EntireDesignTeamParticipates
• WillLetYouKnowHowItGoes!

35. Russ Unger | @russu
Leader Meetings
• Reportsonprogressof theteam
• Creates&updates“CritiqueManual/
Guide”forteam
• ModifiestheCritiqueBuddyprogram
baseduponlearning
• SelectsnextCritiqueLeads(Quarterly)

36. Russ Unger | @russuRuss Unger | @russu
That’s It!
Image Source © Time Inc.

37. Russ Unger | @russu
Benefits
• Freesyourtimeasprimaryreviewerof alldesign
• Identifiesleadersandleadershipinyourteam
• Uncoversgrowthandtraining/learningneeds
• Strengthenscritiqueabilitiesacrosstheteam
• Increasesdistributedteamcommunication&interaction
• Improvesfacilitation&presentationskills
• Improvesdesignacrosstheteam

38. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
CULTURE

39. Russ Unger | @russu
We Don’t Need Another…

40. Russ Unger | @russu
S l o w D o w n .

41. Russ Unger | @russu
Big,GrandRevealsareforAmateurs.
“
Mitigate Design Surprises
Andadvertisingagencies.

42. Russ Unger | @russu
Lighten Up

43. Russ Unger | @russu
Hack the Org Chart

44. Russ Unger | @russu
Work Hard.
Play Hard.
Bull Crap.

45. Russ Unger | @russuSource: https://signalvnoise.com/posts/3124-give-it-five-minutes
Give It 5 Minutes

46. Russ Unger | @russu
5 Years
Whenyoufindyourself stressed,askyourself onequestion:
Willthismatterfiveyearsfromnow?
If yes,thendosomethingaboutthesituation.
If no,thenletitgo.
“
Catherine Pulsifer

47. Russ Unger | @russu

48. Russ Unger | @russu
Set People Up for Success

49. Russ Unger | @russu
Servant Leadership
!☔

50. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
SO WHAT?

51. Russ Unger | @russu
• TeamCharter
• Critique
• Facilitation
• Collaboration
• Culture
My Key Take Aways
Non-Technical / Non-Design
Skills!
LIFE

52. Russ Unger | @russu
Source: Justice League War

53. Russ Unger | @russu
Everyone Else
Aleaderisbestwhenpeoplebarelyknowshe
exists,whenherworkisdone,heraimfulfilled,they
willsay:
Wediditourselves.
“
Lao Tzu

54. Russ Unger | @russu
• TeamCharter
• Critique
• Facilitation
• Collaboration
• Culture
My Key Take Aways
• Bonus#1:LeadershipisMoreAboutYourTeamthanAboutYou
• Bonus#2:Keeponwingingit.Confidently.

55. Russ Unger | @russu
Toda!