Leadership Approach
I believe there are four key tenets to successful leadership -
Team Management
Execution and Operations
Organisational Influence
In this essay, I would like to reflect on my approach and areas for improvement in these key tenets of leadership.
Team Management
Team Management
Encouraging empowerment over enforcement. Fostering collaboration instead of coercion. Prioritising autonomy and accountability over micromanagement.
Encouraging empowerment over enforcement. Fostering collaboration instead of coercion. Prioritising autonomy and accountability over micromanagement.
Creating winning teams:
Creating winning teams:
I resonate with the idea of a leader as someone who builds a resilient team where members support one another and balance each other's weaknesses. In my opinion, there are three key personas every high performing design team should have:
The Expert: A seasoned professional with extensive experience who acts as a force multiplier for the team. They foresee potential challenges before they arise and possess deep T-shaped expertise in specific competencies. They are focused, process-oriented, outcome-driven, communicative, and confidently opinionated.
The Drivers: Adaptable and versatile, these individuals dive into the details and tackle a variety of tasks, unafraid to get their hands dirty. They excel at problem-solving and are always eager to learn and grow. They are detail-oriented, supportive, and team-focused.
The Enabler: Passionate about creating systems that foster order and harmony, the Enabler ensures an environment where everyone can thrive. They identify and unblock barriers, recognize the right talents, and assign them the appropriate tasks. They play a crucial role in coaching and providing clarity to team members.
I resonate with the idea of a leader as someone who builds a resilient team where members support one another and balance each other's weaknesses. In my opinion, there are three key personas every high performing design team should have:
The Expert: A seasoned professional with extensive experience who acts as a force multiplier for the team. They foresee potential challenges before they arise and possess deep T-shaped expertise in specific competencies. They are focused, process-oriented, outcome-driven, communicative, and confidently opinionated.
The Drivers: Adaptable and versatile, these individuals dive into the details and tackle a variety of tasks, unafraid to get their hands dirty. They excel at problem-solving and are always eager to learn and grow. They are detail-oriented, supportive, and team-focused.
The Enabler: Passionate about creating systems that foster order and harmony, the Enabler ensures an environment where everyone can thrive. They identify and unblock barriers, recognize the right talents, and assign them the appropriate tasks. They play a crucial role in coaching and providing clarity to team members.
Building Systems:
Building Systems:
I prioritize the creation of systems that promote collaboration and teamwork. This includes implementing processes for effective communication, project management, and decision-making, where team members can work together cohesively towards common objectives. By establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations, I enable team members to collaborate seamlessly and leverage each other's strengths to achieve shared goals.
I prioritize the creation of systems that promote collaboration and teamwork. This includes implementing processes for effective communication, project management, and decision-making, where team members can work together cohesively towards common objectives. By establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations, I enable team members to collaborate seamlessly and leverage each other's strengths to achieve shared goals.
Playing to the strength:
Playing to the strength:
I try to identify team member’s unique strengths, skills and aspirations. By understanding and leveraging these individual qualities, I strive to create tailored systems that enable each person to thrive in their role. This may involve personalized development plans, opportunities for skill enhancement, assignments that align with their interests and goals or peer pairing that help them learn from each other.
I try to identify team member’s unique strengths, skills and aspirations. By understanding and leveraging these individual qualities, I strive to create tailored systems that enable each person to thrive in their role. This may involve personalized development plans, opportunities for skill enhancement, assignments that align with their interests and goals or peer pairing that help them learn from each other.
Continuous Learning:
Continuous Learning:
I emphasize the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team. This entails establishing systems for knowledge sharing, mentorship and feedback, where team members can learn from one another, seek guidance from experienced colleagues, and receive constructive input on their work. By encouraging a growth mindset and providing avenues for development, I aim to create an environment where team members are motivated to expand their capabilities and pursue excellence.
I emphasize the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team. This entails establishing systems for knowledge sharing, mentorship and feedback, where team members can learn from one another, seek guidance from experienced colleagues, and receive constructive input on their work. By encouraging a growth mindset and providing avenues for development, I aim to create an environment where team members are motivated to expand their capabilities and pursue excellence.
Recognising Excellence:
Recognising Excellence:
I place great emphasis on recognizing and celebrating achievements within the team. Whether it's through writing appreciative notes(public and private) to acknowledge excellence or encouraging peers and colleaugues to give kudos. I also ensure that these notes are captured in the system for future reference. I believe fostering a culture of appreciation and recognition is vital for morale and team cohesion.
I place great emphasis on recognizing and celebrating achievements within the team. Whether it's through writing appreciative notes(public and private) to acknowledge excellence or encouraging peers and colleaugues to give kudos. I also ensure that these notes are captured in the system for future reference. I believe fostering a culture of appreciation and recognition is vital for morale and team cohesion.
Mentorship:
Mentorship:
I conduct bi-weekly check-ins with my teammates, during which we discuss progress towards their goals and exchange feedback. The agenda for these meetings is mutually established, and I encourage open communication to ensure clarity on all fronts. I provide constructive feedback and ensure it is acted upon through the established framework.
I conduct bi-weekly check-ins with my teammates, during which we discuss progress towards their goals and exchange feedback. The agenda for these meetings is mutually established, and I encourage open communication to ensure clarity on all fronts. I provide constructive feedback and ensure it is acted upon through the established framework.
Execution & Operations
Execution & Operations
Hands on Approach:
Hands on Approach:
Armchair leadership is not for me, as I believe there's still much to be improved at the grassroots level. Every project is unique, and every individual is different. I enjoy the journey from zero to one, which is why I'm heavily involved in the discovery, research, and early design phases—primarily to get the strategy right. While I'm not directly responsible for the design outputs, I collaborate closely with the designers, getting my hands dirty and contributing ideas.
Armchair leadership is not for me, as I believe there's still much to be improved at the grassroots level. Every project is unique, and every individual is different. I enjoy the journey from zero to one, which is why I'm heavily involved in the discovery, research, and early design phases—primarily to get the strategy right. While I'm not directly responsible for the design outputs, I collaborate closely with the designers, getting my hands dirty and contributing ideas.
Cross functional Efficiency:
Cross functional Efficiency:
As design works in tandem with Engineering and Product, I ensure participation in triad meetings and one-on-ones with product leads and managers to enable smooth operations. While this doesn't guarantee disruption-free processes, it ensures dialogue and constructive feedback. I work with the leads co creating improved processes that address operational inefficiencies
As design works in tandem with Engineering and Product, I ensure participation in triad meetings and one-on-ones with product leads and managers to enable smooth operations. While this doesn't guarantee disruption-free processes, it ensures dialogue and constructive feedback. I work with the leads co creating improved processes that address operational inefficiencies
Creating & Improving Design Processes:
Creating & Improving Design Processes:
I have worked on improving several processes that have enhanced collaboration among teams. Some of my work include -
Feedback improvement and management within teams
Encouraging Design documentation and setting standards
Fixing design’s mini waterfall in agile process
Enabling Designer’s access to customers
Leveraging internal usability testing to fast track usability feedback
Focussed critique sessions
Improving Design Handoff’s
Creating Design Career Framework for the Design org
I have worked on improving several processes that have enhanced collaboration among teams. Some of my work include -
Feedback improvement and management within teams
Encouraging Design documentation and setting standards
Fixing design’s mini waterfall in agile process
Enabling Designer’s access to customers
Leveraging internal usability testing to fast track usability feedback
Focussed critique sessions
Improving Design Handoff’s
Creating Design Career Framework for the Design org
Defining Design Strategy
Defining Design Strategy
I assist my team members in establishing the design and research strategy for each project, ensuring smooth execution and predictable outcomes. After the discovery phase, I recommend a list of activities based on the problem statement. This approach enhances accuracy while maintaining adaptability.
I assist my team members in establishing the design and research strategy for each project, ensuring smooth execution and predictable outcomes. After the discovery phase, I recommend a list of activities based on the problem statement. This approach enhances accuracy while maintaining adaptability.
Organisational Influence
Organisational Influence
While I'm still learning the ropes of leadership, organizational influence is an area I'd love to improve upon. As we climb the ladder, it becomes more challenging to influence others, sometimes leaving us in a dilemma. This is where I see significant room for growth. However, I employ various strategies to empower myself in this area of focus and aspire to learn from fellow and senior leaders on how they handle this focus area.
While I'm still learning the ropes of leadership, organizational influence is an area I'd love to improve upon. As we climb the ladder, it becomes more challenging to influence others, sometimes leaving us in a dilemma. This is where I see significant room for growth. However, I employ various strategies to empower myself in this area of focus and aspire to learn from fellow and senior leaders on how they handle this focus area.
Influencing Roadmap
Influencing Roadmap
I assist my team members in establishing the design and research strategy for each project, ensuring smooth execution and predictable outcomes. After the discovery phase, I recommend a list of activities based on the problem statement. This approach enhances accuracy while maintaining adaptability.
I assist my team members in establishing the design and research strategy for each project, ensuring smooth execution and predictable outcomes. After the discovery phase, I recommend a list of activities based on the problem statement. This approach enhances accuracy while maintaining adaptability.
Defining Design Outcomes
Defining Design Outcomes
I assist my team members in establishing the design and research strategy for each project, ensuring smooth execution and predictable outcomes. After the discovery phase, I recommend a list of activities based on the problem statement. This approach enhances accuracy while maintaining adaptability.
I assist my team members in establishing the design and research strategy for each project, ensuring smooth execution and predictable outcomes. After the discovery phase, I recommend a list of activities based on the problem statement. This approach enhances accuracy while maintaining adaptability.
Discovery & Research Work
Discovery & Research Work
I play an active role in Discovery and Research work, often taking the lead on these crucial phases. By guiding the team through structured discovery processes, I help uncover valuable insights that inform our design decisions. This hands-on approach allows me to leverage my experience while also fostering a collaborative environment where team members can contribute their unique perspectives. Whether conducting user interviews, analyzing competitor products, or facilitating ideation workshops, I strive to set a strong foundation for our design projects, ensuring we're solving the right problems and creating meaningful solutions.
I play an active role in Discovery and Research work, often taking the lead on these crucial phases. By guiding the team through structured discovery processes, I help uncover valuable insights that inform our design decisions. This hands-on approach allows me to leverage my experience while also fostering a collaborative environment where team members can contribute their unique perspectives. Whether conducting user interviews, analyzing competitor products, or facilitating ideation workshops, I strive to set a strong foundation for our design projects, ensuring we're solving the right problems and creating meaningful solutions.