Matt Shull’s Post

Happy Friday. Tapping away from 30k feet on my way back from NY heading to TX. Last week I started a new project mentoring a small but mighty design/UX/product team and I thought I’d share a few thoughts that have been rolling around in my head as I am thinking about how individuals and teams do work, get stuff done and ship: Chaos vs. Order and The (Limited) Power of Process In the making of anything, there is often tension between the extremes of chaos and order. Often times, the first tool that we reach for when trying to achieve the sweet spot between the two is process. I found myself offering counsel on adding very simple and comprehensive point during a design sprint where at that point, everyone would agree that there would be no more changes or additions beyond that point. Any request would trigger a “process escalation” to drawl appropriate attention to the request. This is project/product management 101 and it’s actionable and implementable but it’s also one part of a broader set of activities. Controlled Collaboration Something that I like to think about and also found myself counseling around is the idea of “controlled collaboration” meaning high levels of collaboration paired with equally high limits, boundaries, expectations etc. Collaboration, which I value highly sometimes comes with a side effect—occasionaly, we can get so caught up in the act of collaborating itself and the good vibes that come with it. Collaboration is a means to an end and not the end itself. The end is shipping the thing, whatever it is that most closely balances the needs of business, brand and user/audience. For all of the above, the rule of too much applies. Too much “chaos” causes issues but sometimes a little, can result in an unexpected gain. Too little collaboration can create a break down, but sometimes too much might not be the best use of time. I’ve often found that in business as in life—modulation, discipline, process, but also keeping room for some spontaneity and agility makes for great results and getting sh*t done. Here’s to the TBD of GSD #Work #Collaboration #Process #Product #Design #UX

What role does empathy play in designing products? Here are the 3 ways: 1. Understanding Users Empathy helps designers really grasp what users want and need. By putting themselves in users' shoes, designers can create products that truly meet their expectations. 2. Inclusivity and Accessibility Empathy ensures that designers think about all kinds of users. This means considering different abilities and backgrounds to make products that everyone can use easily. 3. Fixing Problems Before They Happen Empathy lets designers see potential issues from the user's perspective. By doing this, they can solve problems before they even happen, making the product more user-friendly and enjoyable. --- P.S. Want to learn more about product management? Follow me Orhan Benli and join my weekly newsletter!

Check out this ground-breaking new framework by Shandar Junaid 🙂👍

🚀 As a design team, influencing product managers is crucial for driving impactful outcomes. During my ADPList mentor meetings this topic often comes up. Here are four key takeaways to empower your collaboration: 1️⃣ **Data-Driven Decisions**: Align your design strategies with key performance indicators (KPIs) that matter most to the product manager. Understanding and leveraging relevant data points ensure your efforts are focused on shared objectives. 2️⃣ **Power of Storytelling**: Elevate your insights by weaving narratives with customer feedback and anecdotes. Invite stakeholders to shadow users or participate in UX research sessions to foster empathy and understanding. Storytelling humanizes data and strengthens the case for user-centric design decisions. 3️⃣ **Cost of Inaction**: Highlight the consequences of inaction. Emphasize how neglecting design improvements can lead to negative impacts on critical metrics. Demonstrating the potential losses compels stakeholders to prioritize proactive initiatives. 4️⃣ **Balancing Vision and Action**: Mitigate resistance to change by breaking down ambitious goals into manageable milestones. Implementing incremental changes minimizes risk and garners easier stakeholder buy-in. Blend long-term vision with short-term actions to sustain momentum and foster continuous improvement. Empower your design team to collaborate effectively with product managers, driving innovation and enhancing user experiences. Together, we can create products that resonate and thrive in a dynamic marketplace. #DesignCollaboration #ProductInnovation #UXResearch 🌟✨

Working with designers is crucial for successful product development. Here are key points to keep in mind: 🟢 Align on Goals: Ensure both PMs and designers understand the product vision and objectives. 🟢 Communicate Clearly: Share constraints and expectations upfront to avoid misunderstandings. 🟢 Respect Expertise: Trust designers’ skills in creating user-centric solutions and give them creative space. 🟢 Iterate Together: Collaborate on feedback loops to refine designs efficiently. 🟢 Foster Open Dialogue: Encourage honest discussions to address challenges and innovate. How do you build effective partnerships with your design team? Share your strategies below! #productmanagement #ux #collaboration #designthinking #pm ---- Need help breaking into Product Management or accelerating your PM career? Schedule a free 1-on-1 session with me and let's chat about your goals. Link in my profile. If you enjoyed this post: 1. Follow me for more PM & career content 2. Repost to share with your network

🚀 Ready to supercharge your team’s collaboration? Check out my “UX & PM Fast-Paced Collaboration Framework.” It covers the essentials: • Vision Alignment: Start with a unified direction. 🎯 • Define Roles: UX steers the experience, PMs drive the strategy. 🤝 • Prioritize Communication: Regular, short updates keep everyone on track. 📅 • Focus on MVP: Get the basics right, then iterate. 🚀 • Use the Right Tools: Streamline access to documents and designs. 🛠️ • Show Respect & Empathy: Recognize each role’s unique contributions. 🌟 • Adapt as Needed: Track progress and pivot when necessary. 🔄 Let’s build products that are efficient, cohesive, and impactful! #Collaboration #UXDesign #ProductManagement #AgileTeams #ProductDevelopment #MVP #Innovation #UserExperience #Framework #TechLeadership #TeamAlignment #DesignThinking #UserCenteredDesign #ProjectSuccess #LeanProductDevelopment #Teamwork #ProductDesign #Efficiency #InnovationLeadership #DigitalTransformation

Why are disciplines(product, research, design..) so often unhappy with each other? I've observed a few common patterns from working with and observing the collaboration among product managers, designers, researchers, and engineers as we define strategy and land projects together—it seems like everyone is unhappy with everyone else 😅. There are plenty of LinkedIn posts about this in each area's bubble... researchers feel they aren’t included early enough by product managers, designers feel their craft isn’t valued by the business, product managers feel misunderstood, and engineers feel technical complexities go unappreciated, etc. Collaboration isn’t always easy, and most of the frustration stems from people feeling: 1) not heard, 2) not understood, 3) not included, and/or 4) not acknowledged. But here’s the thing: if everyone is feeling this way, it might be more of a local issue than something larger about your skillset or how other disciplines perceive your work. It could be about you and that person in that moment. Or it could be about inefficient team processes. Or perhaps it's a company culture issue. Try to fix it by first assuming something’s broken at the individual level, and then work your way up (team, company, etc.). I don’t want to gaslight anyone—your negative experiences are valid. However, attributing a bad collaboration broadly (e.g., to all PMs or all researchers) can prevent you from thriving when you encounter a stakeholder who could be a great collaborator when you’re still seeing them through the trauma of a past experience. Give your stakeholder another chance—this one might not be the same as the last. P.S. This is me, putting advice out there that I need to hear myself… one post at a time. #productstrategy #stakeholders #xfncollaboration #ux #pm #designer #userresearcher

A question that's been on my mind: 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗨𝗫 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲? We've witnessed the push towards democratized research, which I'm a huge fan of. A product team connected at the hip, consistently sharing user insights, can and should be more effective. As a result, the line between Product, UX, and even Engineering can blur when a person with robust user knowledge could be in any of those roles. This breeds the potential for increased efficiency and innovation; that said, some things I'm observing more frequently go beyond research and insights. • I've seen Product Managers designing in Figma to a higher fidelity than ever before • I've seen UX designers crafting business requirements docs • I've seen more and more organizations use the title "Product Designer" in place of UX (even we've done this) • I've seen non-product business leaders ask designers questions that are probably more appropriate for Product Managers to answer I don't know what to make of this. Product Managers and UXers are under increasing pressure to do more with less, but should they be blurring the lines this often? Is this a sign of an optimized or dysfunctional team? Are we pushing people beyond stretch zones and into stress zones? Or … am I the only one seeing this? Let me know in the comments where you've seen the line between UX and Product blur.

PMs vs Designers: Who Really Owns the Product?" PMs shape ideas, designers bring them to life. PMs define the "why," designers craft the "how." Early collaboration? Yes, very important ✅ Key collaboration strategies: 👉Frequent communication: Stay aligned. Share feedback often. Set up a cadence for regular stand-ups or syncs where both product managers and product designers can share updates, clarify doubts, and align on the roadmap. 👉Shared insights: It is vital for product managers to bring designers into their research. Let them see through the eyes of the users. Hold joint workshops to define the vision and ensure both PMs and PDs contribute equally. Visualizing success early gets everyone invested. 👉Involvement from the start: Get designers in early—better products, smoother teamwork. Invite product designers to ideation sessions and requirements gathering. This allows design thinking to inform product decisions before they’re baked in. This partnership strikes the balance between functionality and beauty, driving product success. In summary ; PMs define user needs. Designers craft the experience. Together, they build amazing products. What other strategies can make collaboration easier between Product Managers and Product Designers?

Have you ever felt like you and your product manager are speaking two completely different languages in meetings? It’s a common challenge that many UX designers face! In my experience, bridging this communication gap is essential for building trust and fostering collaboration. When we align on terminology, it’s not just about understanding each other—it’s about showing respect for each other’s expertise and creating a shared vision for the product. This is especially crucial in teams where UX maturity is still developing. Sara Paul’s Product & UX Glossary is a fantastic resource to help navigate these conversations and get on the same page with PMs. It’s practical, concise, and easy to use during those key meetings: Product & UX Glossary. And let’s not forget that communication is a two-way street. Sharing the UX Deliverables Glossary with your product manager can make collaboration even smoother: UX Deliverables Glossary. Clear communication leads to better outcomes, stronger partnerships, and products that truly shine! #UXDesign #ProductManagement #TeamCollaboration #EffectiveCommunication #UXResources #DesignLeadership