Hold FastManaging design teams when projects go sideways.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

“Technology companies are expected to move at an incredible pace, and building software is complex” - Alex Schleifer - VP of Design at Airbnb

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

These companies are complex fora variety of reasons…

Departmental make up.

Internal politics.

Team distribution.

Understanding of design’s role.

Limited budget and lofty goals.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Once we start to understand these contexts better, we can start to get an idea of what warning signsto look for before, during, and after projects.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Shipping is just the beginning.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Almost every problem we run into with projects can be traced back to communication issues with our cross functional teams about the projects and processes that surround them.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Managing The Process

Managing Stakeholders

Managing Your Team

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Start by Striving for Transparency

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Take responsibility for areas where you or your team may have missed the mark.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Avoid un-necessary conflict with teams and team members, you can call things as you see them while still moving towards a positive resolution.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Admit when you don’t have an answer.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Managing Stakeholders& Business Partners

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

We need to build trust

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Focusing on other people instead of solution to the problem at hand, only leads to additional conflict and away from a problem’s resolution.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Managing your team

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Every experience, good or bad, our teams face will change them.

No team comes out of any experience the same.This is ok

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Observation is such an important part of our design process, but it is often overlooked as an important part of how we manage and support our teams.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

It is not enough to just manage our teams during challenging project situations, if we want to be successful, and more importantly, help our teams be successful we need to lead.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Managing the process

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Having an agreed upon process in place will provide a starting point for trouble shooting what caused a project to go off the rails.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Be prepared to ditch your process if needed.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Remaining flexible is the key to weathering project storms.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”

~ Mike Tyson - Washed up boxer, eater of ears

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Have a Plan B, even a Plan C, that will help the team work through the situation for the needed solution.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

The needed solution might not be the the ideal solution.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

There is what’s ideal and there is what’s real.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Some things to keep in mindNo two projects are alike.

Do everything you can to avoid blind spots.

Use project kick offs, sprint planning, team retros to inform your strategy for projects moving forward.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Stay the course…

Remain flexible…

Remember that leading nets more results than just managing situations and people.

We can’t control everything that comes our way.

Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- @aaroni | Dir of UX - Nasdaq Product Design #holdfast #dpm2016

Thank you.Aaron “Ron” Irizarry- Dir of UX - Nasdaq

@aaroni

aaron@thisisaaronslife.com

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