What do you do if your boss expects you to take on tasks beyond your job description in Product Design?

I understand that priorities can shift. If my boss assigns tasks outside my typical role, I'll first clarify the purpose and desired outcome. This helps determine if the task aligns with my skillset or if additional training would be beneficial. If it complements my skills and helps the project, I'm happy to take it on. However, if it significantly impacts my core design responsibilities, I'll discuss workload management to ensure both projects receive the necessary focus. Open communication and a willingness to learn are key in these situations.

Prudence is a sign of wisdom. Measuring risks and opps is the minimum in suco situation. Taking risks can drive you for growth and recognition.

Having an open dialogue is table stakes. Honestly, with a designer job-title, I've done qualitative research, quantitative research, product management and some engineering. Was that bad? I think it wasn't in my case because context matters. If you're in a startup or a smaller company where folks are wearing multiple hats. It might be ok; but still I'd have an open dialogue where you are able to help frame these as going above and beyond and not your regular responsibilities. If you're in a larger firm, generally speaking, its much harder to do multiple job-descriptions as just doing design itself has a lot of reviews from multiple parties. In this case, speak openly about what's on your plate and what you can re-prioritize.

If your boss is a good leader, you will have a clear expectation for the outcomes. If not, it will be a trouble but you could investigate by yourself. In such case, success will certainly be much more meaningful.

Managing your time to be successful by taking this tasks will lead you to a more disciplined workday. Schedule your day by priorities. Somerimes you will need a break. Breath, conta until 10 and keep going...

Knowing the boundaries is very important to stablish your priorities. It means you will handle with new situations or people that can be good opportunities and networking. You need to know where you can go, but recognizing how further it could be.

Nobody knows everything. Someone else will always be more experienced than you. Knowledge and lessons learned are alwyas welcome.

Sometimes, when you're have responsibilities that are tangential to your core job, having expert support in the area would be ideal. An example could be that if you're having to conduct large scale research as a designer. Depending on the scale of the project, seek mentorship from a seasoned researcher for reviewing project outline, hypotheses, research questions, user groups, analysis etc. Having a couple to a few sessions like this can dramatically impact the quality of work and your confidence in new waters.

Get the best around you to help the skills and mentor you through. Say ‘yes’ and get support. Try to get to the top table of decision making as much as possible. Set your goal at ‘world class’ and see where you can get to. New opportunities are exciting. Especially when you have the right people with you to show you the way. Just do it! (To borrow a phrase)

A lot of times, especially in the beginning of your career, if time permits, I'd encourage folks to try doing a few things that are not directly related to your primary field. It 100% helps you grow faster. 1. You'll learn so much about how the other work-streams operate. 2. You build empathy as you place yourself in their shoes. 3. This also has an added benefit of becoming a better collaborator since you are able to speak at varying levels of abstraction. 4. It improves your influence in organizations by having direct connections.

Opportunities to develop skills beyond boundaries has alway been sought in product design. Being a product designer is as much passion as profession, in my experience. I have been lucky enough to have worked side by side with some of the best, and they traditionally lap up stretch opportunities. Say Yes! I think the best approach in such a case is to not over complicate and overwork everyday tasks. Simplicity is king. Spend time on that evolves you to a better version of yourself. This is selfish but will lead to better skilled you. It will lead to better work. Happier managers or clients. Take you further. Lap up the opportunity for more work that stretches you. But do not just take the load of more standard work that does not.

Take it as a professional challenge and compliment, that your boss thinks you are capable of handling projects beyond your profile. As they say every runner knows his max sprint limit, but who says you can’t push your limits! An engineer’s job is to keep himself updated and his skills polished for the upcoming sprints! That’s what keeps engineers life interesting! But don’t be overwhelmed, in order to achieve some progress, Asses the project thoroughly! Set the aspects you need to work on or the things you should be able to understand in order to offer customer or your boss a comprehensive solution based on critical information and feedback!