As a UX professional, how can you make yourself more valuable to your team?

By learning the business goals, you gain insights into what the organisation is trying to achieve and how your UX work can support those objectives. Understanding the broader context enables you to make design decisions that are not only user-centred but also aligned with the overall business strategy. You can contribute not only as a UX designer but also as a strategic partner who understands how the user experience directly impacts the success of the organisation.

As a UX professional, becoming more valuable to your team involves a combination of technical skill enhancement, soft skill development, and strategic thinking. Focusing on user research to deeply understand customer needs, mastering UX design tools for efficient and innovative design solutions, and staying updated on the latest UX trends can significantly boost your technical expertise. Equally important is developing soft skills like communication, collaboration, and empathy, which facilitate better teamwork and user understanding. Strategically, contributing to product vision and aligning design goals with business objectives demonstrate your value beyond the design itself, making you an indispensable part of the team.

To enhance your value to the team, prioritize learning about the business domain you're designing for. Understand its goals, challenges, and target audience deeply. This knowledge enables you to align design decisions with business objectives, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and propose solutions that address both user needs and organizational goals, ultimately fostering more successful and impactful designs.

Foster a deep understanding of your company's goals and target audience, while cultivating continuous learning and staying abreast of emerging UX trends and tools. This combination allows you to craft user-centric solutions that align with business objectives.

Comprender cómo funcionan los procesos del resto de la organización y equipos, te convertirá en un UX sobresaliente. Se trata de una profesión transversal a la organización. Esto provoca que debamos ser conocedores del trabajo del resto de equipos para ser el núcleo entre nuestra organización y el producto que reciben las personas. Fomenta tu participación, y la del resto de tu equipo, con los diferentes departamentos de tu empresa. Esto convertirá tu trabajo en algo mucho mejor de manera más rápida y eficiente. Al saber cómo funciona el negocio, podrás balancear las tres patas imprescindibles para el éxito de tu investigación: negocio, tecnología y personas.

In order to collaborate effectively you need to provide guidances to your teammates. This guidance can be about what kind of feedback you are expecting, what stage you are in the design journey and also most importantly where they could invite your participation. Collaboration is two way street. You need to allow others to take a look at your process and be a part of it. Also others need to see their inputs being valued. Taking a playbook from brainstorming, anyones ideas should not be dismissed early on. This discourages people from participating. Collaborating with younger members of the team is a delicate process. You need to make them feel safe and valued for them to contribute effectively.

UX success thrives on collaboration. By bringing together diverse perspectives from designers, researchers, and stakeholders, you create a well-rounded understanding of users and craft solutions that are both user-friendly and achieve business goals.

Keeping a continuous learning mindset and striving for constant improvement is essential for personal and professional growth. Aim to stay ahead of the industry trends, expand your skill set, and enhance your effectiveness as a designer. Stay curious and open to new ideas and perspectives. Seek out resources such as books, articles, online courses, and industry events. Embrace feedback. Listen, reflect, and incorporate it into your design process, allowing it to guide your decision-making and refine your skills.

The UX field evolves rapidly, demanding we stay updated on trends, tools, and best practices. Beyond this, understanding technology, business, and human psychology deepens our impact. Embracing feedback and iterating designs fosters a culture of improvement. Networking, mentorship, and community involvement enrich our perspectives. Empathy, not only for users but within teams, amplifies our value. It's about being a lifelong learner, empathetic colleague, and active community participant, elevating our work to create meaningful, user-centered solutions.

Curiosamente, soy de la opinión de que la mejor literatura sobre el Dise?o de Experiencia de Usuario, en realidad pertenece a la década de los 80. Pero eso no te deja libre de estudiar constantemente sobre nuevos procesos, metodologías, frameworks, tendencias de digitalización, nuevas tecnologías... Cualquier profesional que trabaje en la industria digital, IT, innovación... debe estar siempre al día y ser un ávido estudiante. Te recomiendo suscribirte a lecturas interesantes (como newsletters) de grandes profesionales del sector, apuntarte a masterclasess, eventos gratuitos de tu campo o a suscribirte a servicios como el de la Interaction Design Foundation para estar al día (pero sin agobios, a tu ritmo, es mejor calidad que cantidad)

On top of continuously expanding my UX skillset, I actively try to make myself more valuable by seeking opportunities to improve my skills in non-design specific areas like project management, engineering, and business intelligence. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of colleagues from cross-functional departments means more effective collaboration. I prioritize maintaining a curious mindset, proactively acquire skills that may be beneficial in the future, and share new tips and tricks with colleagues. Setting clear goals for continuous growth for myself ultimately means contributing to the overall success of the team.

Being proactive means seeking out ways to improve processes, solve problems, and drive positive change. As a proactive UX designer, you don't wait for issues to be brought to your attention but instead actively identify areas for improvement and take action. Creativity, on the other hand, means you approach problems from multiple angles and explore unconventional solutions. These qualities not only enhance your own professional growth but also contribute to the success and differentiation of the projects you work on.

Si eres un simple ejecutor/a, no serás capaz de crecer como profesional (en casi ningún ámbito). Anticípate a las necesidades y propón de forma constante en el momento y lugar adecuados. Propón mejoras, actividades, el uso de nuevas herramientas y metodologías. Ser parte activa del cambio te asegura estar ahí durante el cambio. Realiza esto desde la humildad y gestiona y participa en el resultado con pasión.

Taking the initiative in a team sets you apart. Proactive team members who anticipate needs and identify opportunities for improvement are exceptionally valuable. This proactive approach contrasts starkly with a reactive one, where waiting for instructions can slow down progress. By being proactive, you demonstrate leadership qualities and a strong dedication to the team's success.

Sharing knowledge and insights isn't a one-way street; it's a superpower for both the giver and receiver. By openly sharing your expertise, you elevate your team's collective knowledge and foster a culture of continuous learning. This not only benefits individual growth but also fuels innovation and leads to stronger, more well-informed solutions.

Continuously expanding your knowledge and skills in specialized domains relevant to your team's projects and objectives, you not only contribute to delivering superior user experiences but also position yourself as a subject matter expert and go-to resource within the organization. This specialized expertise can elevate your contributions, boost team performance, and ultimately increase your impact as a valued member of the UX team.

Sé empático/a: con tu equipo, con las personas usuarias y stakeholders. Sé curioso/a: una persona curiosa es capaz de interesarse por el mundo que le rodea, realiza preguntas pertinentes. Ambas habilidades te darán el super poder de la escucha activa. Es la clave de nuestra profesión. Un UX vive el mundo con empatía y curiosidad. Considera cada proceso desde el punto de vista de los demás y tendrás bastante camino recorrido.