40. Managing Priorities (feat. Harry Max, author and managing partner at Peak Priorities LLC)
Jul 19, 2024
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Author and managing partner at Peak Priorities LLC, Harry Max, discusses common misconceptions about prioritization in UX, including using prioritization matrices and trade-off scales. He shares insights on incorporating UX work into Agile backlogs and the DEGAP prioritization framework. The podcast also explores the importance of decision-making and strategies for managing priorities effectively.
Prioritization is a crucial skill for overwhelmed UX professionals facing constraints like budget and resources.
Harry Max emphasizes the importance of practicing prioritization to stay relevant and sane in the industry.
Deep dives
Prioritization as a Key for UX Professionals
Prioritization is crucial for overwhelmed UX professionals facing constraints like budget and resources. Harry Max, author of 'Managing Priorities', emphasizes the importance of refining skills needed for prioritization which goes beyond surface-level understanding. He highlights the significance of practicing prioritization to stay relevant and sane in the industry.
The Art of Prioritization through Nature of Problems
Harry Max narrates pivotal experiences that led him to prioritize problem-solving over documentation. He discusses a critical moment at Rackspace where a sudden leadership change necessitated immediate course correction, underscoring prioritization as an ongoing skill rather than a one-time decision. He explains prioritization challenges in dynamic, complex organizational settings and the need for deliberate actions to navigate such scenarios.
Framework Agnostic Approach to Prioritization
Harry Max emphasizes the significance of prioritization methodologies irrespective of specific frameworks like Agile or Scrum. He advocates for a systematic operating model within organizations to facilitate effective decision-making processes and ensure clarity in roles and responsibilities. Max highlights the importance of aligning teams on prioritization goals rather than fixating on specific techniques.
Building Prioritization Muscle through Daily Practices
Harry Max shares a simple yet effective practice known as the 'Morning Boot Routine' to strengthen prioritization skills. He suggests starting the day by tackling avoided tasks to build confidence and establish a proactive approach to handling priorities. Max encourages individuals, especially those new to prioritization, to confront challenging tasks promptly to improve decision-making abilities.
“If you squint hard enough, every problem is a prioritization problem.” -Harry Max
UX professionals are often faced with the challenge of managing backlogged work and doing so with limited time, budget, and resources. In this episode, we chat with Harry Max about the common misconceptions with prioritization and how to get better at it over time.