How to achieve better results by changing your mindset - Connor Joyce (Senior User Researcher, Microsoft)
Oct 23, 2024
auto_awesome
Connor Joyce, a Senior User Researcher at Microsoft and author of "Bridging Intention to Impact," dives into transforming digital product development with evidence-based decision-making. He discusses the essential mindset shifts needed for successful product management and user research collaborations. Joyce also explores the integration of AI in design, stressing the balance with traditional user experience principles. Utilizing humor and real-life examples, he uncovers the critical 'impact mindset' that affects user engagement and the alignment of product and research teams.
Connor Joyce emphasizes the importance of adopting a research-centric mindset to create actionable insights that drive meaningful product improvements.
He advocates for a broader definition of user research that includes diverse data inputs beyond traditional methods, enhancing product development decisions.
Deep dives
The Journey into User Research
Connor Joyce discusses his transition into user research, starting from consulting and the implementation of technology. He highlights the challenges faced by users in deriving value from tech solutions and expresses the desire to dive deeper into understanding user needs. His pursuit led him to obtain a master's in behavioral science, equipping him with a unique perspective in product development. Throughout his career, he has focused on not just building products but designing solutions that genuinely address user problems.
The Importance of Impact in Research
Joyce emphasizes that the effectiveness of user research is determined by its capacity to create actionable insights that drive product improvements. He argues that research should not be viewed as an optional addition but as an integral part of product development. By adopting a mindset that values the impact of research, teams can ensure that they are not only collecting data but are actively using it to inform better decision-making. This perspective challenges the misconception that only defined researchers can generate valuable insights, encouraging a more inclusive approach to experimentation.
Research as a Source of Insights
Although Joyce acknowledges that user research is not always necessary for every product situation, he underscores the significance of gathering evidence from various sources to validate development decisions. He suggests that insights can stem from customer service analyses, sales feedback, and other forms of qualitative evaluation rather than solely relying on typical user research methods. This broader definition of research allows teams to make informed choices based on diverse inputs, which can be especially crucial for products that aim to meet market expectations. Ultimately, he believes that understanding customer needs strategically can lead to more effective feature creation.
Adapting to the AI Era
Joyce shares insights about integrating generative AI in products and stresses the necessity of maintaining traditional design frameworks while leveraging AI capabilities. He suggests that the most successful AI products enhance existing features rather than overhaul them entirely. Users' expectations need to be managed, especially as experiences with chatbots become more prevalent. As AI technology evolves, he points out the need for designers to navigate user interactions carefully, ensuring clarity and trust in AI outputs while aligning features with user needs.
Connor Joyce, a Senior User Researcher at Microsoft and author of "Bridging Intention to Impact." joins us on the podcast this week to discuss building features that are built with evidence and collaboration, fostering not only successful launches but also long-term user satisfaction.
Featured Links: Follow Connor on LinkedIn | Microsoft User Research | Desired Outcome Labs | Buy Connor's new book'Bridging Intention to Impact: Transforming Digital Product Development through Evidence-Based Decision-Making'
Our Hosts Lily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She’s currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She’s worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.
Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury’s. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group’s Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He’s the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager’s Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon’s music stores in the US & UK.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode