How do you lead UX teams across locations and disciplines?

1 Define your UX vision and strategy

The first step to lead a UX team is to have a clear and shared vision and strategy for your UX work. This means defining your goals, objectives, principles, and metrics, as well as aligning them with the business and user needs. A UX vision and strategy can help you communicate the value and impact of UX to your stakeholders, as well as guide your team's decisions and actions. You can use tools like UX roadmaps, personas, user journeys, and value propositions to create and communicate your UX vision and strategy.

2 Establish your UX process and standards

The next step is to establish your UX process and standards, which are the methods and guidelines that your team follows to deliver quality UX work. A UX process and standards can help you ensure consistency and efficiency across your team, as well as foster collaboration and feedback. You can use frameworks like design thinking, agile, or lean to define your UX process, and tools like style guides, design systems, or pattern libraries to define your UX standards. You should also document and share your UX process and standards with your team and stakeholders, and adapt them as needed.

3 Build trust and rapport with your UX team

Another important step is to build trust and rapport with your UX team, which are the foundations of a healthy and productive team culture. Trust and rapport can help you create a positive and supportive environment for your team, as well as motivate and empower them to do their best work. You can build trust and rapport with your UX team by getting to know them personally and professionally, respecting their opinions and expertise, recognizing their achievements and contributions, and providing them with regular and constructive feedback.

4 Facilitate collaboration and communication across your UX team

One of the main challenges of leading a UX team across locations and disciplines is to facilitate collaboration and communication across your team. Collaboration and communication can help you leverage the diverse skills and perspectives of your team, as well as ensure alignment and transparency on your UX work. You can facilitate collaboration and communication across your UX team by using tools like online platforms, chat apps, video calls, or shared documents to connect and interact with your team, as well as by organizing regular meetings, workshops, or brainstorming sessions to involve and engage your team.

5 Support your UX team's learning and growth

The final step is to support your UX team's learning and growth, which are the key factors for your team's success and satisfaction. Learning and growth can help you keep your team updated and inspired on the latest UX trends and practices, as well as develop their skills and competencies. You can support your UX team's learning and growth by providing them with opportunities and resources for training, mentoring, coaching, or self-learning, as well as by encouraging them to share their knowledge and experiences with each other and the wider UX community.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?