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Summary
For this month's call we convened a 3-person panel to share diverse stories and paths of becoming a UX manager—from writing, to print/graphic design, and even theater! We discussed the various origin stories of becoming a manager, those humbling moments of learning lessons along the way, and touch upon what makes managing truly rewarding as a career path choice. Whether you're a manager now or perhaps thinking about it with some trepidation, you will surely get some inspiring takeaways. As a bonus, we also featured a short teaser of content coming up for our annual Enterprise Experience 2020 conference.
Key Insights
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Scaling UX impact in rapidly growing enterprises requires embedding empathy across all roles, not just UX teams.
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UX managers often come from varied non-UX backgrounds such as graphic design, writing, and theater, bringing unique leadership skills.
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Effective UX management hinges on facilitation skills to build alignment and advocate for users and teams alike.
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Understanding individual personality types and tailoring feedback styles dramatically improves team relationships and performance.
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Managing remote teams during COVID-19 demands extra attention to human connection, needs, and well-being beyond work tasks.
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Mentorship is a powerful tool to overcome imposter syndrome and support growth for both managers and their teams.
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Transitioning from individual contributor to manager means finding new fulfillment in enabling others' success rather than personal output.
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Growth boards serve as a lean governance tool to maintain alignment and accountability among multiple teams in scaled organizations.
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Coaching team members to solve their own problems is more sustainable than solving problems for them.
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The distinction between kindness and niceness is critical for managers to provide honest, supportive leadership that fosters true growth.
Notable Quotes
"Imagine if everyone you worked with had deep empathy for your customers and made decisions based on those customer needs."
"No matter how good your ideas are, if you can't help other people see that too and build alignment, it doesn't really matter."
"Being nice is ignoring the piece of spinach in your friend's mouth, being kind is telling them it's there and helping them get rid of it."
"The best way to overcome imposter syndrome is to mentor, because teaching others helps you see your own growth."
"In management, it's less about what you produce and more about enabling your team to produce their best work."
"Managing teams remotely right now means checking who is alone, who is an extrovert, and tailoring support accordingly."
"As a manager, you need to listen and care deeply to meet each person's unique needs, not apply one-size-fits-all solutions."
"I learned how to empower people without overshadowing them, which was not easy because I didn't even realize I was doing it at first."
"Management is a two-way street; you should be open to criticism from your team and willing to help them grow through it."
"Using writing skills as a manager helps articulate ideas clearly, especially in tricky conversations like performance feedback."
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