Coaching Growth in UX Design

In our ever-changing UX world, learning and growing aren't just perks, they're superpowers. But when it comes to fueling this growth, who's the ultimate teammate: the wise mentor or the supportive coach? Both rock, but let's dive into the coach's toolbox and see why it can unlock some serious independent magic for designers at all stages.

Meet the Mentor: Think Gandalf to Frodo. Mentors share their epic journey wisdom, helping us navigate established paths and find solutions. They're awesome for newbies who may not have seen the design dragon before.

But Hold On... This power dynamic can get tricky. Sometimes we copy their solutions instead of crafting our own, becoming Frodo who just throws the ring in. Plus, one-size-fits-all mentoring can miss the unique spark of each designer.

Enter the Coach: Think Yoda to Luke (minus the green ears). Coaches are less about "do this" and more about "what do you think?" They're skilled companions who help us discover our own design Force.

How They Do It:

• Question Masters: They ask the kinds of questions that make us think like Jedi, exploring challenges, finding knowledge gaps, and crafting our own lightsabers of solutions.
• Safe Space Builders: They create a trust bubble where we can experiment, learn from mistakes (even those epic lightsaber meltdowns!), and iterate like crazy without fear.
• Progress Cheerleaders: They celebrate every step on our design journey, not just the final picture-perfect moments. Because hey, even Yoda stumbled on Dagobah, right?

What We Gain:

• Finding Our Design Voice: We learn to think critically, solve problems independently, and develop our own unique design language. Time to ditch the copy-paste and rock our own style!
• Confidence Boost: Coaches believe in us, making us feel like design masters in the making. We own our skills and rock that design confidence like a Beskar-forged jetpack.
• Learning Forever: The focus on self-discovery fuels a love for learning, making us Jedi-level knowledge seekers, always ready for new challenges. The galaxy's our design playground! ?

This Coaching Magic Works for Everyone:

• Juniors: Gain confidence, find their design footing, and experiment like crazy. The Force is with you, young Padawans!
• Mid-Levels: Break through plateaus, hone critical thinking, and chart their own unique career paths. May the design Force be with you!
• Seniors: Become team-coaching rockstars, fostering independent thinking and collaborative growth. Spread the coaching wisdom, wise design masters!

So, let's all be a little more Yoda and a little less Obi-Wan. Shift the focus from answers to questions, create safe spaces for exploration, and celebrate the learning journey. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of every designer, from Padawans to Masters, and build design teams that conquer any design challenge with the power of independent thinking and continuous growth. May the design Force be with us all!

Remember, this is just your friendly neighborhood design coach talking. Now get out there and explore your design Force!

This article wouldn't exist without my two-hour brainstorm session with #Googlebard.

?? Few books you can check on coaching related to UX Design:

1. The Coaching Habit & Do More Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier
2. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
3. Coaching for Innovation by Cristina Bianchi and Maureen Steele
4. Design the Life you Love by Ayse Birsel
5. This Human by Melis Senova