Listen to Steve on the Making Things That Matter podcast
Thanks to Andrew Skotzko for a fun conversation on the Making Things That Matter podcast where we talked about improving your user research process.
Our 75-minute conversation is on the episode page, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. You can find a transcript on this page.
Steve Portigal is a veteran user research leader and consultant who helps companies mature their research practices. He’s the author of Interviewing Users, a classic in the field, and the host of the design leadership podcast Dollars to Donuts. In this conversation, we explore:
• how to use creative practices to develop your voice as a leader and storyteller
• how to be a smart consumer of research findings when you aren’t an expert in the craft of research
• one simple question leaders can ask to set their organizations to make the most of research
• and how to create the conditions for high-impact, effective creative work in your team
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Topics discussed
(10:21) Experimenting with writing and finding one’s voice
(15:47) Feedback model: GASP – goals, attempts, successes, possibilities
(19:53) Workshops, creativity, and self-doubt
(27:06) Embrace authenticity, find your unique facilitation style
(28:10) Appreciating different approaches, understanding executives’ skepticism
(34:37) Engage with compassion
(39:29) Research is essential for informed decision-making
(49:01) Compassion and reflection are crucial for leaders
(50:48) Create a safe learning space for engagement
(56:03) Assessing code quality and marketing effectiveness
(01:00:39) Research raises questions, timing and deployment important
(01:10:31) Stay fascinated with the world around you