Nurturing Team Growth: A Journey from 1 to 23 in 2 Years
For decades, the dream of creating a UX department from the ground up had been a persistent want in my mind. Armed with prior experience as a department head, joining Interactive Investor in July 2020, I thought it would be a breeze. Little did I know, the path ahead would prove to be quite demanding, yet immensely rewarding. As I reflect on the past two years of this incredible journey, here are some invaluable lessons that have shaped my approach to leadership and team growth.
1. People Over Skill
While skills are undeniably crucial, the heart of any team lies in its people – individuals with unwavering passion, strong ethics, and shared values. In the pursuit of building a strong team, I learned to prioritise character and cultural fit. Hiring meticulously and assembling a core group of diverse minded individuals with the same UX passion proved essential to laying a solid foundation.
2. The Power of Networking
The web of connections woven over the years can prove indispensable. Nurture these relationships as they can offer insights, advice, and support. They act as a reminder that one is not alone on this journey, and their wisdom can often light the way. I even hired some of my team via connecting with them on LinkedIn. It’s amazing what the power of adding or accepting someone on a network can become.
3. Patience and Pragmatism
As an idealist at heart, I yearned for rapid progress. Yet, I’ve come to appreciate the balance between idealism and pragmatism. Rome was not built in a day, and embracing incremental progress has allowed us to maintain momentum while evolving towards our ideals.
4. Self-Care for Effective Leadership
Leading a team of soon to be 23, demands energy, focus, and empathy. Recognising the importance of self-care became paramount. The support system within the team played a pivotal role in gently nudging me away from the brink of burnout. A leader who practices what they preach can inspire their team to do the same.
5. The Art of Radical Candor
"Radical Candor" by Kim Scott reshaped my approach to communication and leadership. The concept of challenging directly while caring deeply became the cornerstone of our team's interactions. Fostering an environment of radical candor encourages open dialogue, transparency, and unwavering support.
6. Upholding the UX Discipline Amidst Challenges
The journey to establish the User Experience (UX) function was a formidable one. For 1.5 years, we navigated hurdles to seamlessly integrate UX across the organisation. Persistence paid off, culminating in the elevation of UX to its own department. This triumph underscored the notion that UX is not an isolated entity but an integral part of every facet of the business.
As the team has grown from one to soon to be twenty-three, the emphasis remains on retaining our humanity amidst the expansion. Every one of my teams contribution adds to our shared journey. With each lesson learned, we continue to evolve, remaining dedicated to the principles that have guided us and adapting and we grow. The path from a dream to reality has been marked with many challenges, but the teamwork, progress, and growth that have ensued make every step worth the effort.
I'm really excited for what the next 2 years bring here at Interactive Investor, working alongside our colleagues across the business to empathise and understand our users and design fantastic experiences across our product and service in order to help people get closer to their financial dreams without friction.
If you are keen to join our UX Team I have an opening for a UX Designer and UX Researcher.
And I plan to grow the team more in 2024
... Hey that rhymed
