Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Product + Design = Powerhouse Partnership!
As a product manager, how can I empower my design team to consistently deliver their best work?
As a design leader, I am a firm believer in the powerful partnership between design and product. Over the years, my product colleagues have often sought my perspective on this crucial collaboration. Allow me to share my insights from a designer’s standpoint, infused with leadership, empathy, and an unwavering passion for collaboration.
Foster Mutual Understanding:
Start by fostering mutual understanding and empathy between you and your design team. Recognize their passion and creativity, and show genuine interest in their perspectives and challenges.
Co-create Quality Standards:
Instead of dictating quality standards, collaborate with the design team to co-create them. Discuss what high-quality work looks like in the context of the product and align on shared expectations.
Provide Supportive Feedback:
Offer feedback in a supportive and constructive manner. Focus on specific examples and frame feedback as opportunities for growth and improvement rather than criticism.
Empower Autonomy:
Empower your design team with autonomy and ownership over their work. Encourage them to take creative risks and explore innovative solutions, while providing guidance and support along the way.
Advocate for Resources:
Advocate for the resources and support that your design team needs to succeed. Whether it’s additional training, tools, or time, champion their needs to top management and strive to create an environment conducive to creativity and excellence.
Celebrate Achievements:
Celebrate the achievements and successes of your design team. Recognize their hard work and contributions, both internally within the team and publicly within the organization.
Facilitate Collaboration:
Facilitate collaboration and cross-functional communication between the design team, development team, and other stakeholders. Encourage open dialogue and foster a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.
Lead by Example:
Lead by example by demonstrating a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. Show that you value quality and craftsmanship in all aspects of the product development process.
Address Challenges Together:
When challenges arise, tackle them together as a team. Approach problems with a mindset of curiosity and problem-solving, and leverage the diverse perspectives and skills of the design team to find creative solutions.
Stay Positive and Resilient:
Finally, maintain a positive and resilient attitude in the face of challenges. Embrace setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, and continue to support and empower your design team on their journey towards excellence.
Icon credit: Graphic Designer by Chattapat from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)
