Demystifying success ia_summit2015

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Demystify Success for IAs and UXers

Gail Swanson | April 24, 2015

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Too many highly skilled people aren’t succeeding at work.

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70% of U.S. workers are not engaged at work.

State  of  the  US  Workplace  Report  -­‐Gallop  2015  

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“Although it is implicitly assumed that the ratings measure the performance of the

ratee, most of what is being measured by the ratings is the unique rating tendencies

of the rater.”

How  People  Evaluate  Others  in  OrganizaCons,  edited  by  Manuel  London  2001  

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Knowledge Work “non-routine” problem solving that

requires a combination of convergent, divergent, and creative thinking.”

Knowledge  Worker  Roles  and  AcCons  –  Results  of  Two  Empirical  Studies  Reinhardt,  W.;  Schmidt,  B.;  Sloep,  P.;  Drachsler,  H.  (2011)  

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Information Architecture: Designing and integrating information spaces/systems

•  We deliver ideas •  Our work is often invisible until the end •  The outcomes hypothetical or unknown

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Relationships are hard

What you want to do

What the team needs

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Don’t wait for your manager

•  57% learned their leadership skills through trial and error.

•  89% possess at least one leadership skill “blind spot.”

Finding  the  First  Rung,  ScoV  Erker,  Ph.D.,  and  Bradford  Thomas  

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A shared understanding of success

The Goal

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A New Vocabulary

BE Assertive Collaborative Confident Resourceful A Leader Innovative

DO High Client Satisfaction Improve Product Performance Follow Processes Resolve Conflict Retain Talent Deliver On Time

Concrete and objective

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A Conversation Framework

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Behavior Expectations

Work Independently Collaborate

Initiate Change Follow Process

Analyze Execute

Focus Broadly Specialize

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Balanced Responsibilities Prioritize your focus areas.

NEW BUSINESS

STRATEGY

DESIGN DIRECTION

TEAM PERFORMANCE

Production of defined work Process building Shaping & defining work Production Oversight Planning Business Development Talent Development

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Oversight The expectations for inspection and review

Peer Reviews Manager Approvals Inspecting others work Ownership of process Level of rigor

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Workload

Self managed Director managed % of billable or project time Assignments

Process of assigning work

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Hard Skills

Current level of expertise Skills you need to acquire for advancement

Your capabilities

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Soft Skills

Efficient communication Persuasive delivery Group motivation Conflict resolution Negotiation Relationship building

Techniques needed to achieve results

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Leadership

Build your organization’s network Team Building/Hiring Build industry clout Public speaking Organization Subject Matter Expert

The social aspects of business

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Measured Results

•  Observable, detectible impact •  Business value

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Conversation Framework

1.  Behavior Expectations 2.  Balanced Responsibilities 3.  Oversight 4.  Workload 5.  Skills 6.  Leadership 7.  Measured Results

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ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Survey 2014

We must get better at nurturing talent or it will be tougher to do the work we love.

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If we keep making assumptions that good workers know what to do to succeed, we will keep getting what we’ve always gotten:

A homogenous workforce where the talented workers keep moving around, dissatisfied.

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Start this conversation where you are now.

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Thank You!

Gail Swanson [email protected]