Navigating the Human Experience: A Series on People Leadership for UX Managers
Rising Expectations: The Demands of Today's Workforce
In the fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry, being a people manager has become more challenging than ever before. The expectations employees have of their managers are soaring to new heights. As the pandemic accelerated digital transformation and revolutionized remote work, old concepts of productivity were upended. Issues like work-from-home arrangements brought to light the need for flexible and inclusive approaches to work. Moreover, a heightened awareness of injustice and the call for diversity and inclusion have brought new meaning and purpose to the workplace. Employees now expect leaders and companies to be reflective of their values, and they have little tolerance for bad managers, just as they have little tolerance for bad user experiences in the digital world.
Challenges Amidst Transformation for People Managers
Simultaneously, companies are grappling with the very idea of the value of people managers. Economic tightening has put pressure on companies to streamline costs, leading to reduced budgets for operations and employee support. This challenging environment raises questions about the necessity of traditional managerial roles, leaving managers feeling the burden of saving money, increasing output, and proving their worth without the resources for team building and culture building events.
The Indispensable Role of Good Managers: Catalysts for Success
Yet, amidst this transformation, the role of a good manager remains invaluable to the business. Employee engagement, staff retention, and aligning teams with the company's strategic vision are just a few reasons why effective managers are crucial to a company's success
Unlocking Potential: A Series on People Leadership for UX Managers
In this blog series, as a UX leader and people manager myself, I will share my perspective on what I believe good managers should be responsible for, along with the tools and frameworks I personally use to enable managers in this ever-changing landscape. From fostering an enabling, empowering, and engaging environment for your team to conducting meaningful career conversations and effective weekly 1:1 meetings, I hope to equip fellow managers with the insights and resources they need to thrive in the tech industry's dynamic world.
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of people management in the tech industry, and let's build a community of effective, compassionate, and growth-oriented leaders together.