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Summary
To be an effective design leader requires knowing about the business, but does it require an MBA? Maybe it’s more about exerting influence by leveraging simple models of behavioral science and persuasion to achieve outcomes—and doing it without losing your soul. Join us for an enlightening approach to achieving our goals as designers, in a fireside chat with Ryan Rumsey, Chief Executive Officer, Second Wave Dive. He shares his own journey from Apple to Electronic Arts (EA) and beyond as a design leader learning how to gain effective influence with “the business” side of things.
Key Insights
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Empathy is crucial in understanding colleagues’ roles and motivations, similar to how we approach user research.
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Navigating business influence requires adapting communication to align with the structures and language used by executives.
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Understanding organizational dynamics is key; collaboration often suffers from conflicting incentives between separate business units.
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Leverage familiar design methodologies to remix strategies that resonate with stakeholders and enhance influence.
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Build trust by successfully delivering on initial projects—influence grows from reliability and accountability in enterprise settings.
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Effective storytelling in business should align with the decision-making context, focusing on situation, complication, and resolution.
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Design influence is not solely about aesthetics but about understanding the larger business objectives and metrics.
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Recognize that each organization has its own unique business model, and tailor design approaches accordingly to meet those specific needs.
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Designers must be business-savvy and comfortable discussing metrics and ROI to be credible in enterprise environments.
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Fostering a culture of collaboration is more about facilitating discussions than simply pushing design initiatives.
Notable Quotes
"Business influence without losing your soul is a critical focus for designers today."
"Holding on to your soul in business is more important than ever."
"What is the role of design in an organization is still a question we face today."
"Design is contextual; understanding your business environment is key to effective influence."
"Decision-making in organizations is not purely rational; emotional and relationship factors play significant roles."
"Understanding empathy among colleagues is just as vital as understanding user needs."
"We often compete with apples in business without acknowledging that each context is different."
"Trust is built by being reliable and delivering results on time and within budget."
"Business decisions need to be connected to people’s motivations and pressures; it’s not just about metrics."
"Influencing design decisions is about remixing familiar methodologies to connect with organizational priorities."
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