The Best UX Boss I Ever Had
Over the years I’ve noticed common traits that the best bosses share. It’s fair to say that no one boss ticked all the boxes but here’s a run down on those qualities that led me to infinitely respect and work hard for these people.
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The Relentless Pursuit of Brilliance
Great UX (User Experience) bosses have incredibly high standards that push you forward to do even better. They lead by example, they know their field and often surprise you with a dazzling insight. Situations where you find yourself saying “I’d never have thought of that” or “So that’s why you are Head of UX”. Great bosses can be quirky, incredibly demanding and sometimes infuriating. However, there’s always something about them that makes you not want to disappoint them and produce something more than you think you initially could.
Design Obsessed
Great UX bosses have a deep interest in design and haven’t just ended up in their position as a reward for service to the company. They are prepared to get their hands dirty and sketch out ideas themselves to get a point across. The very best bosses strive to enunciate a UX design process, principles or vision and are successful in communicating this to the wider organization.
Open Minded
Great UX bosses are open-minded. They allow you to make suggestions regardless of your level of seniority and do not quickly trash an immature idea. They’ll check in on you from time to time without sitting behind you and let you experiment with the design before presenting your work. They respect your craft as an interaction, visual, motion or other UX designer.
They Look Both Ways
Great UX bosses are not obsessed by their perception to senior management and by communicating upwards alone. They are interested in low-level design and don’t take all the credit for your work. They are concerned about properly onboarding new team members and giving you the right tools to get started. They want you to learn and occasionally bring you along to a meeting just for the exposure alone. Realizing that you cannot be kept at the same level forever, great bosses want you to evolve.
A Good Person
It’s not common to know great UX bosses very well in terms of their personal lives. However, sometimes the glimpses of that life also can show genuine achievement or something else to aspire to. From raising four kids on their own to running marathons for charity. From showing genuine affection for their partner when they visit the office to giving you extra days off a Christmas. Humanity is a very attractive quality indeed.
Do you agree, anything to add?