There are some models so relatable, so simple, so memorable, they are immediately useful. This talk will introduce models that foster leadership and are easy to apply to UX teams. One of the more important things you can do in user experience work is inspire others to achieve their best work. Based on research of over 7000 professionals, learn the four dimensions that differentiate your team members. Instantly recognize interpersonal strengths, and reflect on how to balance your team, motivate and reward people for their strongest skills. Learn to use a model rooted in therapy to guide and mentor others. Leadership is not one-size-fits all. Understand different styles of leadership and when to apply them. This talk is suitable for new and experienced UX practitioners mentoring other UXers, product teams or clients. It will help you develop more focused leadership skills and approaches when working with teams and individuals.

1. Models for leadership
Inspiring others to do their best work
#UXPA2016 #Lead

2. How do we create leaders?
How can we help individuals succeed?
#UXPA2016 #Lead

3. You, as a leader, need to empower
your team to generate and execute
bold ideas.
Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO

5. What styles of leadership are effective?
#UXPA2016 #Lead

6. Leadership styles
Supportive – Participatory – Directive – Achievement-oriented

7. Supportive
Focus on relationships
Provide resources and
advice
Show sensitivity to team
member needs
Ask questions to guide
others
Effective when
– Tasks are repetitive or
stressful
– Time is well-spent
training and coaching
– Templates and examples
are readily available
Negative: Can be time-consuming or ineffective if the purpose of the task isn’t clear

8. Participatory
Tap team’s ideas, expertise
Include team in making
decisions
Give freedom in how to
perform the work
Encourage creativity
Effective when
– Team is experienced
– Task is complex and
challenging
– Want to collaborate to
formulate the plan
– People want to give input
Negative: Can be ineffective when you need a quick decision

9. Directive
Communicate goals and
expectations
Make decisions
Assign clear tasks, delegate
Command, rather than
consult the team
Effective when
– Tasks or projects are
unstructured
– Team is inexperienced
– Buy-in isn’t necessary for
success
– In crisis
Negative: can be overly demanding

10. Achievement-oriented
Set challenging goals for
your team
Be confident in team’s
abilities
Expect solid performance
Provide high standards
Put the right people on the
team
Effective when
– Desire to reach collective
goals
– Team is trained, skilled in
doing the work
– Want to engage people
for a long period of time
– Some are unmotivated or
unchallenged in their
work
Negative: Can be viewed as competitive or fail if team composition isn’t right.

11. Tip: match the style to
the situation
How much time is available?
Are relationships based on respect
and trust or are you working to
earn trust?
Who has the information—you,
someone else, or team?
How well is the team trained?
Who is experienced with the task?
What type of task: structured,
unstructured, complicated, or
simple?
Are their any preferences or
conflicts to consider?
What’s the stress level?

12. How can we avoid common
leadership mistakes?
#UXPA2016 #Lead

13. Common leadership mistakes
Not defining goals clearly
enough
Not giving enough
feedback
Not "being there" for your
team
Not anticipating far enough
in advance
Provide a vision and clear
expectations
Build in feedback loops
Check in, ask how things
are going, and be willing to
lend a hand
Plan long-term, look for
triggers, warn team of
potential issues
Mistake Lesson

14. Common leadership mistakes
Being too ‘hands on’ or too
‘hands off’
Tolerating poor
performance, poor
performer or bad behavior
Making people feel bad
Pitch in strategically or let
go of concrete tasks
Create improvement plan
based on learning
Maintain positive feelings in
yourself
Mistake Lesson
“I've learned that people will forget what you
said, people will forget what you did, but people
will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya AngelouSource: www.nndb.com
/people/265/000023196/

15. How can we lead productive
conversations?
#UXPA2016 #Lead

16. GROW model

17. G = Goal
R = Reality
O = Options
W = Way forward
G.R.O.W.
Source: www.slideshare.net/mcpheats/how-to-use-the-grow-coaching-model

18. Use it to
Structure a 1-on-1 conversation
Unstick a sticky situation
Focus a group
Step through solving a problem

19. ICE model

20. I.C.E.
I = Intellectual
C = Convert to
E = Emotional
Source: incrediblepictures.com

21. Ask questions, in this order:
1. Tell me more …
What happened next?
2. What have you tried?
What’s not working?
3. How does this impact
you, on a personal level?

22. Use it to
Structure a 1-on-1 conversation
Show you care
Keep a pulse on what’s happening
Get feedback
Uncover the root cause

23. How can we better understand and
work with people?
#UXPA2016 #Lead

24. 4 Dimensions of relational work

25. 4 Dimensions are
1. Influence
2. Interpersonal facilitation
3. Relational creativity
4. Team leadership

26. Influencers
Are persuasive
Constantly tap into their
network
Love to negotiate
Make strategic connections
Build a team around them
Source: https://twitter.com/anthrotechUX

27. Interpersonal
facilitators
“Behind the scenes” worker
Sense people’s emotions
and motivations
Help people cope with
issues and conflict
Work to align team
members values and get
agreement
Source: https://twitter.com/anthrotechUX

28. Relational Creativity
Use pictures and words to
communicate from a
distance
Focused on building
relationships
Able to motivate others to
act
Use ambiguity to find
opportunity, create and
innovate Source: https://twitter.com/anthrotechUX

29. Team leadership
Successful through their
interactions with others
‘Doers’
Thrive on working with
others to accomplish goals
Interested in people and
processes
Source: https://twitter.com/anthrotechUX

30. Use it to
Observe what motivates people you work with
Match the task to the right person
Notice gaps in roles your team may have
Recruit a good fit

31. Consider what motivates people
Influencer
Promote, negotiate, close
Consult and discuss. Help
resource teams. Share
successes publically.
Interpersonal facilitator
Mediate and solve
disagreements
Ask for information, to clarify.
Team up to address disputes.
Relational creativity
Create, share ideas,
provide options
Be open to other ways of
achieving a task. Recognize
creative accomplishments.
Team leadership
Devise the plan,
collaborate, deliver results
Ask for feedback, have them
review. Suggest practical
alternatives.

32. Source: http://www.cavendishmd.co.uk/insights.php?most=yellow&least=blue

33. Source: http://blog.mindjet.com/2013/02/workology-wrap-up-map/

34. Source: pinterest

35. Source: celebritytypes.com/test.php

40. Leadership is about making others
better as a result of your presence
and making sure that impact lasts in
your absence.
Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook

41. How can we be authentic leaders?
#UXPA2016 #Lead

42. Leaders …
Set challenging goals
Develop discipline
Prepare, delegate and
guide
Show compassion and
passion
Challenge present
circumstances
Learn from failure
Celebrate success

43. Leaders need to…
Listen
Cultivate the right
environment
Trust
Make people feel
connected
Give permission to fail
Take swift action to
course correct
Provide timely feedback
Provide perspective &
inspiration
“Be the change you wish to see
in the world.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Source: www.biography.com

44. Leaders don’t create followers. They
create other leaders.
Tom Peters, Author and management consultant

45. Thank you.
How do we create leaders?
How can we help individuals succeed?
What styles of leadership are effective?
How can we better understand and work with people?
How can we be authentic leaders?
#UXPA2016 #Lead @AnthroTechUX @lanihathaway
http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey?sessionid=216

46. ANTHRO-TECH.COM | (360) 584-9151
Lani Hathaway
SENIOR USER-CENTERED DESIGN CONSULTANT
lanihathaway@anthro-tech.com

47. About Anthro-Tech
We’re a user-centered design
consultancy focused on government
agencies, nonprofits and enterprises
with a social-impact mission.