Summary
Are you feeling overwhelmed, constantly busy, and that you never have enough time to focus on what really matters? Learn how to use the design process of divergence and convergence to make space for you and your key relationships in the organization. Learn how to turn difficult relationships into trusted partners as you build influence upwards, with your peers, and with your team. Lead at scale by focusing on people and most importantly, starting with yourself.
Key Insights
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Leadership requires making space for relationships, not just achievements.
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Use the design process to foster self-reflection and prioritize well-being.
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Assessing satisfaction in different areas of life can reveal where improvements are needed.
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The concept of 'being versus doing' is crucial to effective leadership.
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Vulnerability helps build trust and strengthen professional relationships.
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Personal experiences can guide the transformation of leadership style.
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Emotional intelligence is as important as technical skills in design leadership.
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Listening for the '10% truth' can improve understanding and collaboration.
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Encouraging a supportive environment changes how teams engage and perform.
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Opportunities for leadership can exist in any role, not just formal title positions.
Notable Quotes
"I had no white space in my life."
"I kept achieving on the personal side, but I was running on fumes for decades."
"The only way I knew to go forward was to do more."
"I learned that I valued people, relationships, culture processes more than product and ideas."
"As designers, we help create north stars for the products."
"In technology, we're used to doing things all the time; we often have no time for the being."
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
"One of the huge mistakes I made was failing to make space for relationships."
"It's not easy, but sharing builds trust and strengthens the relationship."
"You can lead from any position; you don’t need a title to make an impact."
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