Point of View
The only thing I'm dogmatic about is not being dogmatic. I hold a strong point of view but grip it loosely. There are many ways to do things; time, cost, and quality are all on a scale.
A Diversity of Ideas
Design and Designers don't have exclusivity on idea generation. Concepts with merit can come from any area of the organization. The best way to identify what's worth doing is to prototype and test it.
Aptitude, not Attitude
Portfolios reflect talent, experience, and attention to detail. Reading a resume, seeing potential in a body of work, and knowing who is and is not a cultural fit can be challenging. Understanding the right hire for the job requires experience.
Iteration & Refinement
Experienced Product Managers, Developers, and Designers know the difference between iterating towards a goal and making refinements. It is essential to recognize when it's time to stop considering options and focus on delivery. It's always challenging.
Multiple Approaches
There is no 'one way' to get things done. Context is king/queen when it comes to delivering value--every timeline, team size, budget, and customer is different. Having Plays that you can run is more important than running a repeatable Process, which may or may not scale.
All things Vaporwhere
Visions of the future and 'Concept Cars' that extend thinking beyond the next business quarter are critical. Accurate representations of what is vs. is not possible are just as important.
Pixel Drift
Design leaders who aren't Designers or Researchers tend to underestimate efforts or overestimate the resources required to deliver. Design is a discipline that requires an understanding of craft, and leading practice is dependent on clear, direct communication.
Disclosed Progression
There are times for heads-down work. Even when working individually, we must be transparent about our efforts and when they will be delivered. Scenarios occur when expectations are misaligned--it's best to keep them to short increments.
Design Thinking and Making
There are times to think and times to make, and there is a balance between doing both to drive value. Think too much or too long and nothing gets designed. Make too much too fast and it’s a production machine that burns out designers.
Pragmatic Dreaming
Pushing the threshold of what is possible is critical. Knowing that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should is equally important. Too much dreaming and wishful thinking is just as harmful as not enough.
Outcomes vs. Process
It's easy for Designers and Researchers to fall in love with their method. The process is why they choose their discipline, which often pays less than what their parents wanted them to study. Businesses value outcomes and process supports delivery.
No Jerks
Everyone has bad days. Being consistently standoffish or thinking you are better than others in the workplace is immature. If someone believes they are better than others, that's their problem--no reason to make it everyone else's.
Oh the Frameworks
There is a framework for delivering everything. Frameworks are ways to view inputs, transformations, and outputs. Without specificity, frameworks are simply diagrams. They will need context to drive value.
Maintain A No Drama Policy
Gossip and factionalism erode the cohesion of high-performing teams. I’ve experienced this as a leader, and once that happens, it’s hard, if not impossible, to put back in the box.
API - Assume Positive Intent
Sometimes, we’ll have a client or colleague that shows up negatively. We don’t know why, and it’s easy to assume they aren’t considerate/kind/well-intended/etc.
Polish Your Diamonds
Although everyone started with “NO work experience”, someone eventually hired us and retired the “NO”.
Always Stay Humble
Staying humble is paramount for personal and professional growth. Humility cultivates openness to learning from others.
Integrity is everything
Integrity is the cornerstone of all values. The ability to trust the motives of others in our group is essential to high-performing teams.
Authenticity begets Authenticity
Authentic leadership creates an environment where team members can bring their true selves to work.
Be the lighthouse, not the light
As a leader, your job is to shine the light on your team’s success. Even when you may have supported their efforts, the focus isn’t on you.
Responsible creativity
The most valuable gift leaders in Experience Design possess is the ability to operate well within the company's mission and core values.