Explore how designers can elevate their influence within companies by fostering strong relationships with product managers. Discover effective strategies for early engagement and collaboration, enabling designers to co-present ideas and participate in crucial conversations. Learn the importance of building trust and supporting product requirements to become indispensable allies. Additionally, uncover useful design tools that enhance creativity and streamline workflows, paving the way for strategic partnerships and impactful design roles.
Building strong relationships with product managers through regular communication is essential for designers to align their work with business needs and priorities.
Actively participating in strategic planning conversations empowers designers to deepen their understanding of the business landscape and showcase their value to the team.
Deep dives
Building Strategic Relationships with PMs
Developing a strong relationship with product managers (PMs) is crucial for designers aiming to make a strategic impact. Regular one-on-one meetings can foster deeper conversations that allow designers to understand the business's challenges and priorities more comprehensively. By asking insightful questions and showing genuine interest in the broader goals, designers can align their work with business needs, which can lead to collaborative opportunities. Over time, this rapport facilitates an environment where designers can co-present ideas with PMs, enabling a more integrated approach to problem-solving and strategy.
Gaining Context Through Active Participation
Participating in strategic and planning conversations significantly enhances a designer's understanding of the business landscape. By proactively expressing interest in joining these discussions, designers can gain visibility into the decision-making process and demonstrate their value to the PM and the team. This engagement helps build trust and positions the designer as a resourceful ally, focused on reducing risks and enhancing product outcomes. Over time, this strategic involvement deepens the designer's understanding and allows them to contribute more meaningfully to product decisions.
Proactive Strategic Thinking for Future Impact
To transition into a more strategic role, designers must take initiative beyond their designated tasks, often dedicating personal time to explore new ideas and visions for the product. By presenting forward-thinking concepts that align with business goals, designers can demonstrate a commitment to the company's success, fostering a collaborative relationship with PMs. This practice not only showcases the designer's creativity but also emphasizes the potential for future innovations that can significantly benefit the company and its customers. Ultimately, the proactive pursuit of these vision-driven projects can pave the way for designers to elevate their influence within the organization.
I’ve interviewed a lot of staff designers to figure out what it takes to have real influence at companies like Shopify, Github, Airbnb, etc.
One thing is clear… if you want to make strategic impact as a designer then you have to get to a place of altitude that allows you to see the bigger picture.
This episode is designed to help you do just that.