On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Ashley Morgan to the show.  We discussed the importance of design and the experience of the end user. We kicked off the episode reflecting on our recent facilitation certification program with Voltage Control and the process of creating a portfolio to showcase our facilitation skills. We discussed the role of facilitation in leadership and the need for self-awareness and curiosity in order to be an effective leader. We chatted about the importance of user experience in product and service success.

We also discussed the importance of continuous learning and how curiosity and openness can foster innovation within organizations. Ashley talked about the different mentalities between larger companies and startups when it comes to taking risks and exploring new ideas. Overall, the need for collaboration, communication, and a user-centric approach in organizations is important.

Key Takeaways:

• Everyone has the potential to be a leader, regardless of their title or role.
• Openness and curiosity can foster innovation within organizations.
• Leaning into strengths and supporting each other's weaknesses can create a positive team culture.
• Larger companies tend to focus on the financial bottom line and are more risk-averse, while startups have a mentality of having nothing to lose and everything to gain.
• User experience (UX) is crucial in creating a successful product or service, as a poor user experience can lead to frustration and loss of customers.
• UX professionals have the ability to see the entire system and identify areas where silos and inefficiencies exist, allowing them to recommend changes that improve the user experience.
• It is important for organizations to prioritize and allocate resources to address user pain points and improve the overall user experience.
• Collaboration and communication between different teams, including UX, product, engineering, and leadership, are essential for successful implementation of changes and improvements.
• Feedback and iteration are key in the design process, allowing for continuous improvement and addressing user needs and preferences.
• Breaking down internal silos for a seamless user experience.
• The power of feedback and iteration in the design process.

#ux #design #designthinking #facilitation #userexperience  #leadership #curiosity #continuouslearning #innovation #designthinking #startups #exploration #iteration #collaboration #communication #user-centric approach

Show Notes:

• Ashley Morgan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-morgan/
• Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/Ny9NAPNAJNg
• The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcast
• Captivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/
• Book that Ashley mentioned it episode: "Standing in the Fire: Leading High-Heat Meetings with Clarity, Calm, and Courage", by Larry Dressler: https://a.co/d/0iOKUSK6