Beyond UX Design

This week we chat with Tim Yeo, author of “The Quiet Achiever,” about the strengths of introverted leadership. Discover how introverts can excel without conforming to extrovert norms, and learn about Tim’s journey from a quiet designer to an influential leader.How can introverts truly thrive in leadership roles without compromising their authenticity?Tim Yeo, a veteran design leader, shares his unique perspective on how introverts can lead effectively without morphing into extroverts. Drawing on his experience as a Design Director at IBM and his role in fintech startups, Tim illustrates how introversion can be a powerful asset in the workplace.Tim discusses the pivotal moments in his career that led him to embrace his introverted nature, which ultimately fuelled his success. He shares valuable insights into overcoming the extrovert ideal prevalent in leadership roles and highlights the significance of authenticity in achieving professional success. His book, The Quiet Achiever, guides introverts to harness their strengths and confidently navigate the corporate landscape.Whether you’re an introvert seeking to enhance your leadership skills or an extrovert looking to support your quieter colleagues, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on professional growth.Tune in to hear Tim’s inspiring journey and learn how you can succeed on your terms.Helpful Links:• Connect with Tim on LinkedIn• The Quiet AchieverTopics:• 03:24 – Tim’s Career Journey• 05:34 – Challenges and Strategies for Introverts• 09:55 – The Quiet Achiever Book• 30:07 – Sensing and Responding in Conversations• 31:07 – Frameworks for Introverts and Extroverts• 32:52 – What can extraverts learn from Introverts• 33:54 – Working Better Together• 34:53 – Designing Team Dynamics• 37:36 – Tips for Extroverts and Ambiverts• 41:43 – Asynchronous Collaboration—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today’s episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today’s episode, why don’t you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven’t already, sign up for our email list. We won’t spam you. Pinky swear.• Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show• Support the show on Patreon• Check out show transcripts• Check out our website• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts• Subscribe on Spotify• Subscribe on YouTube• Subscribe on Stitcher

We tend to determine our own social and personal worth based on how we stack up against others. This bias shapes our self-perception and the perception of others. It can lead to feelings of false inadequacy or, the opposite, false superiority.How can you identify a mature designer?In this episode of Cognition Catalog, we explore how to identify a mature designer and dig into the social comparison bias that can affect team dynamics and individual performance. Learn about upward and downward comparisons, the impact of social media on self-perception, and strategies to foster a healthier work environment. Stay informed on cognitive biases by subscribing to our newsletter, and don't forget to check out beyonduxdesign.com for art prints and exclusive offers.To explore more about the social comparison bias, don’t miss the full article on the Cognition Catalog!Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know when new episodes drop!---01:19 Early Career Challenges03:46 Understanding Social Comparison Bias05:06 Impact of Social Comparison Bias on Team Dynamics06:35 Navigating Social Media and Professional Networks07:58 Strategies to Overcome Social Comparison Bias---Join me every week for insights on a new cognitive bias!

How can UX designers make a meaningful impact in large enterprise orgs?I'm excited to chat with Stéfanie Walter, a UX researcher and strategist who has built an impressive career in enterprise software. With over 13 years of experience focusing on inclusive design and accessibility, Stef has established herself as an expert in enterprise UX. Her varied background spans industries from automotive to finance, giving her unique insights into the challenges of designing complex systems and processes.This conversation is essential for UX professionals working in, or considering transitioning to, enterprise teams. Stef's experiences and advice will inspire you to approach enterprise software with a fresh perspective and the confidence to drive meaningful change.Helpful Links:• Connect with Stֻéphanie on LinkedIn• stephaniewalter.designAbout StéphanieStephanie is a UX Researcher & Strategist based in Luxembourg. She has 13+ years of experience and specializes in enterprise UX, inclusive design, and accessibility. She teaches, speaks, and writes about design, UX research, accessibility, cognitive biases, and design-dev relationships, among many other things. She enjoys good tea, bike rides, and drawing illustrations. Her D&D (donjon and dragons) alignment is chaotic neutral, and she is better at keeping her teammates alive in video games than her plants. But she triesHave you been putting off building your portfolio?Wix Studio can help get you there faster!If you've been sitting on building your new website, Wix Studio can help get you there faster. Wix Studio is a powerful platform that lets you create and manage websites easily. With Wix Studio, you can quickly adapt designs for every device, reuse assets, my favorite, export from Figma and much more. Check out beyonduxdesign.com/wix to start creating today!—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show• Support the show on Patreon• Check out show transcripts• Check out our website• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts• Subscribe on Spotify• Subscribe on YouTube• Subscribe on Stitcher

We tend to overestimate the importance or impact of information that readily comes to mind when making decisions. As a result, our choices and judgments may be skewed, and we may overlook other important factors.What happens when we misuse research data?The focusing effect can have major implications for our personal and professional lives. It can dramatically influence how we make decisions about our own lives, like career decisions, and it can also have a huge impact on how our teams make decisions.To explore more about the social comparison bias, don’t miss the full article on the Cognition Catalog!Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know when new episodes drop!Join me every week for insights on a new cognitive bias!—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today’s episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today’s episode, why don’t you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven’t already, sign up for our email list. We won’t spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠• ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠• ⁠Check out show transcripts⁠• ⁠Check out our website⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠• ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

This week, we chat with career coach Meltem Naz Kaso, who shares a unique framework for overcoming career stagnation. Discover why feeling “stuck” might be an invitation to explore new possibilities and how you can strategically navigate your career.Are you truly stuck in your UX career, or is it just a phase?Meltem Naz Kaso is a UX career coach with a decade of experience in both in-house and consultancy roles. Meltem now dedicates her time to helping professionals rebuild their careers with passion and self-awareness. In this episode, we dig into her unique approach, inspired by UX methodologies, to help her clients achieve career clarity.Meltem shares her journey from being a UX research manager at Glovo to becoming a career coach. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the cyclical nature of UX roles. We discuss the challenges posed by the current job market and explore how adaptability can become a key asset in successfully navigating career transitions. Meltem offers valuable insights on balancing work-life dynamics, especially for those juggling family responsibilities alongside career growth.We also unpack the themes from Meltem’s recent article in Fast Company, where she highlights the importance of personal branding and networking. Tune in to learn practical strategies for identifying career opportunities and enhancing your skill set to stay relevant in an ever-evolving industry. Don’t miss out on this enlightening conversation that promises to transform your career perspective.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with Jen Blatz as we reimagine the role of personas in UX design. Discover how the Jobs to Be Done framework can lead to more meaningful, user-centric strategies that align with real-world needs.Is your UX design truly user-centered, or are personas leading you astray?Discover a game-changing approach that could redefine your strategy.Tune in as I chat with Jen Blatz, who challenges the conventional use of personas in design. With a rich UX research background, Jen critically analyzes how personas can sometimes misguide design efforts by fostering stereotypes that do not capture the complexity of user needs. She questions the real value personas bring to the table and urges us to look beyond surface-level user profiles.Jen champions the Jobs to Be Done framework, which shifts the focus from demographic data to understanding users' true objectives. This approach offers a more grounded understanding of user behavior, enabling designers to create solutions that genuinely address user challenges. Jen also introduces the Scenario Alignment Canvas, a tool she developed to help teams focus on specific user scenarios and enhance collaborative efforts.Jen Blatz provides actionable insights and innovative strategies to help you move beyond traditional personas, ensuring your designs are driven by authentic user needs. This episode is a must-listen if you want to enhance your UX methodology and create more impactful designs.

Discover how accumulated knowledge can cloud our communication. Experts often misjudge what others know, leading to misunderstandings. The discussion includes personal stories and experiments that reveal the challenge of sharing information across different expertise levels. Practical strategies for fostering empathy and clarity are shared, helping improve teamwork and effective communication.

Explore the cognitive biases plaguing your team with our series, inspired by the Cognitive Bias Codex. Each week, discover a new bias with insights and examples for the entire software team. Subscribe now to stay up to date on this enlightening journey. The post Introducing the Cognition Catalog! appeared first on Beyond UX Design.

This week, we chat with Matthew McPhail, UX principal at Home Depot, about the critical role of relationships in building great software. Discover how fostering trust, empathy, and respect can transform your work environment and propel your career forward faster.Could the secret to advancing your UX career lie in the relationships you build?This week, Matthew McPhail, a principal UX designer at Home Depot, joins the show to share his journey from Industrial Design to UX design. He highlights how relationships have been instrumental in his quick career progression to UX Principal. Matthew underscores the importance of trust, empathy, and respect in fostering a collaborative work environment that drives success.We explore the scientific basis for relationship-building and explain how it influences team dynamics and personal growth. Matthew emphasizes that while technical skills are essential, the ability to forge meaningful connections often plays a pivotal role in the effectiveness of software projects and career development. Ultimately, managing ambiguity becomes more manageable when we build strong relationships.Whether you’re an experienced UX practitioner or new to the field, you’ll gain valuable insights into the soft skills that can transform your career and your team’s success. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from Matthew’s experiences!

I can't believe another year has come and gone, but here we are! Last year was a wild ride for me professionally and personally. Lots of ups and downs, but I'm excited for another year. Are you ready? The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Beyond UX Design.