Insightful Articles
Last updated
Last updated
In an article from 2024, Vinita Bansal states that making good decisions under stress is a super skill that can get your attention, make you stand out, and build credibility at work. The article provides a guide to making better decisions under stressful circumstances. It emphasises the importance of slowing down, asking questions, considering long-term consequences, recognising biases, and learning from mistakes. By following these principles, decision-making skills can be improved leading to better outcomes.
In an article from 2020, Amir Shevat shares his observations collected over 20 years in the tech industry. Key insights include the potential for good technology to be misused, the lasting impact of early technical decisions, the pain of technology migrations, the fear of new technologies, and the importance of communication and collaboration in teams.
In an article from 2024, Alicia Drinkwater provides a practical guide to effective product documentation. The article advocates for creating a centralised "project hub" that links to relevant documents tailored to different stakeholder needs. By focusing on clarity, consistency, and user experience, product managers can save time, improve collaboration, and reduce unnecessary meetings.
In an article from 2024, Martyn Reding writes that design leaders' careers and place in the world of technology has changed and is not coming back. The article states that it's time for leaders to adapt to new demands and new opportunities and argues that the traditional role of design leadership is evolving. As the tech industry matures and the demand for rapid innovation increases, design leaders are expected to be more adaptable, versatile, and technically proficient. They must be able to navigate changing market dynamics, collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, and leverage emerging technologies like AI to drive product development. By focusing on practical skills, embracing new workflows, and staying updated on industry trends, design leaders can thrive in this new era.
"Become a product connoisseur. One of the most effective ways to establish yourself as a connoisseur of product design, is to build a practice of actively seeking out new apps, services and products and regularly bringing your observations back to your team. Making it part of your job to share examples of good UI, interaction and content design with your team is a simple method for establishing a quality bar and demonstrating your knowledge, without undermining your team’s skills. Survival tip : Set a quarterly reminder to download the top 3 apps each month. Take a grab of any interesting elements and share them with your team." - Martyn Reding
In an article from 2024, Beth Ann Mayer discusses the effectiveness of "I statements" in resolving arguments. By focusing on personal feelings and needs rather than blaming others, I statements can help de-escalate tensions and promote constructive dialogue. The article provides examples of I statements that can be used in both professional and personal settings, emphasising the importance of clear communication and empathy. "The term 'I statement' refers to a communication technique that expresses thoughts, feelings and needs assertively rather than aggressively," says Dr. Kamran Eshtehardi, Ph.D., a California-based clinical psychologist. "I statements typically begin with the word 'I' and focus on the speaker's own experience."
This article states that the top reasons designers fail in organisations according to research are:
People in non-design roles making design decisions
Managers making design decisions w/o design training
Designers don't seek enough data before designing
No time is provided for long term thinking
Designers not receptive to critical feedback
Lack of awareness of the business fundamentals
Only lip-service is paid to "User centered design"
Designer's power diluted by too many cooks
Poor collaboration skills
Poor persuasion / idea pitching skills
Big Ego / Expects others to cater to their whims
Some timeless lessons-learned over a long career of leading software product development. Some of them are funny — all of them can improve how you manage your next project!