I’ve worked for a lot of idiot managers in my career. And then, one day, after I had become a manager, it dawned on me: Now I’m the idiot! You see, most of my career has been an exercise in “trial by fire.” This process worked well when I was a designer and was trying to master the art of the task flow, site map, wireframe, prototype, persona, and so on. In leadership positions, the option to go back to the drawing board or to iterate hasn’t always been readily available—nor as painless to my pride and potentially my pocketbook.
Many of these lessons haven’t been easy for me to learn. It’s been tough to simultaneously remove obstacles without becoming one, or learning how to say “no” (and the flavors of yes and no!) when I’ve also wanted people to be satisfied with me and the work I’m doing. However, these lessons have all helped me become better at managing to some degree, while instilling a strong sense of empathy for those people who either report to me, or bless their souls, manage me in one way or another.
If you’re interested in learning from some of the hard lessons I’ve learned, or in just laughing at my folly, there will be plenty of material to provide you with either opportunity.
5. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Source: Justice League War
6. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Therearenogrown-ups.We suspect thiswhen weare
younger,butcanconfirmitonlyonce wearetheoneswriting
booksandattendingparent-teacher conferences.
Everyoneiswingingit,some just do it moreconfidently.
“
Pamela Druckerman
Source: NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/opinion/sunday/what-you-learn-in-your-40s.html
7. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Therearenomanagers.Wesuspect this whenwe are
younger,butcanconfirmitonlyonce wearetheoneswriting
reviews,SOWs,slide decksandattendingleadershipretreats.
Everyoneiswingingit,some just do it moreconfidently.Everyoneiswingingit,some just do it moreconfidently.
Source: NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/opinion/sunday/what-you-learn-in-your-40s.html
“
Pamela Druckerman
9. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
What is a Team Charter?
Aunifyingplanthat a team agrees toas its rulesof
engagement andgoalsandobjectives.
“
11. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
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
12. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
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 and will be critical
of work product, but not the person doing the work.
OUR UX TEAM
13. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Focus Areas
• WhataretheTypesof Work
We Do?
• User Research
• Interaction Design
• Information Architecture
• Information Design
• Prototyping
• Usability Testing
WHAT WE DO
14. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Areas of Growth / Improvement
• Where DoWeNeedMore
Experience?
• Whatis theRationaleforthe
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
15. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
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
16. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Signatures
• WeAllAgreetoAllofThis!
AGREED UPON BY
20. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
New to Critique? Start Here.
Aaron Irizarry & Adam Connor
DiscussingDesign.com
Source: SlideShare: http://www.slideshare.net/adamconnor/discussing-design-the-art-of-critique
21. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
The Problem
Me
HowdoImakecritiqueapartof our
culture,asaformalizedprocess?
22. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Eachoneteachone.
“
Kim Goodwin
many
23. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital AmericasRuss Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Critique
Buddies
WTF are
?
24. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
The Setup
L
BBB
L
BBB
M
• Select“Critique Leads”
• ManagerassignsCritiqueLeads
• SelectTeamsof 3-4Buddies
• Manager&LeadsAssign
25. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
How It Works
• Weekly30minutemeetingswithCritiqueLeads & Buddies
• Ad hoc meetingsasneededandas available
• Can’t miss2weeks in a row
• Critiquecanworkboth ways
• Weekly30minuteCritiqueLeads& Manager
• Reviewthecritiques
• Critique&tweaktheprocess
B B B L
B B B L
B B B L
26. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Buddy Meetings
• Startsveryinformally
• Getto knoweachother
• Reviewof what’sbeing worked on,etc.
• Driven bytheCritiqueLead
27. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Buddy Meetings
• Shifts to (slightly)formal
• Agendas,morestructured
pitch/ presentation
• LedbytheCritiqueBuddy
28. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Leader Meetings
• Reports onprogressof theteam
• Creates &updates“CritiqueManual /
Guide” forteam
• ModifiestheCritiqueBuddyprogram
based uponlearning
• Selects nextCritiqueLeads(Quarterly)
32. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
We Don’t Need Another Hero
33. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
S l o w D o w n .
34. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Big,GrandReveals areforAmateurs.
And advertising agencies.“
Mitigate Design Surprises
35. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Lighten Up
36. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Work Hard.
Play Hard.
Bull Crap.
Source: http://gsh.tumblr.com/post/60206622542/everyone-plays-harder-i-dont-want-to-play
37. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital AmericasSource: https://signalvnoise.com/posts/3124-give-it-five-minutes
Give It 5 Minutes
38. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
5 Years
When youfindyourself stressed,ask yourself onequestion:
Willthismatterfiveyears fromnow?
If yes,thendo something aboutthe situation.
If no,then letit go.
“
Catherine Pulsifer
40. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
• Team Charter
• Facilitation
• Collaboration
• Critique
• TimeisWorthYourTime
My 5 Key Take Aways
Non-Technical
Skills!
41. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Source: Justice League War
42. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Everyone Else
Aleaderisbestwhen people barely knowshe
exists,whenher workisdone,her aim fulfilled,they
willsay:
Wedid itourselves.
“
Lao Tzu
43. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
• Team Charter
• Facilitation
• Collaboration
• Critique
• TimeisWorthYourTime
My 5 Key Take Aways
Non-Technical
Skills!
• Bonus #1:LeadershipisMoreAboutYourTeamthanAboutYou
• Bonus #2:Keeponwingingit.Confidently.
44. Russ Unger | @russu | GE Capital Americas
Thank You!