Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Alana Brajdic

Advice & Learnings from Nathan Streater, UX Design Lead at Tabcorp.

Nath’s the one with the beard.

Recently, I’ve read a lot about coming into a new company as a UX lead. But I couldn’t find much about making that transition from designer to lead within the same team. So I turned to Nathan Streater, my UX Lead, who was in this exact position. I wanted to learn about his experiences in making the change. How was it different? And what does design leadership entail? So let’s dive in.

Can you briefly describe the role of a UX Lead?

A UX Lead acts as an enabler for the team, ensuring that everyone has the resources and support they need to do their job. A lot of my time goes into UX rituals, working with delivery, product, stakeholders and focusing on our UX Strategy. I’m involved in shaping where we want to take our product in the future.

“A UX Lead acts as an enabler for the team, ensuring that everyone has the resources and support they need to do their job.”

How do you know if you’re ready to be a UX Lead?

Haha, I’m not sure you’ll ever know if you’re ready, but that’s a great question. Initially I didn’t recognise it. It was only upon reflection, getting support from my peers and talking to my mentor that I realised that I was ready for the change.

If you start doing the following it might be a sign:

Putting the team first and making sure everyone’s point of view is respected and considered.
Willing to help those within the team grow their skills and sharing of knowledge.
Being accountable for successes and failures.
Organising and prioritising work.
Having the ability to bring the right people in to do the job at hand.
The desire to make a change and improve ways of working.

“You’ll be putting the team first and making sure everyone’s point of view is respected and considered.”

What’s the best part about being a lead?

Helping people and sharing knowledge. I love seeing the team grow and achieve their personal goals. That aspect of it is very rewarding. I also enjoy the challenges I face from the business side. Being able to adapt and change is healthy. Every time something changes we all learn something new.

“Helping people and sharing knowledge. I love seeing the team grow and achieve their personal goals. That aspect of it is very rewarding.”

And what’s the worst part?

The admin tasks, followed by some of the growing pains we have with different parts of the business, but we’ll get there soon enough. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn.

You went from being a team member to the team’s leader. What were the benefits of this?

When you go from a team member to the team’s lead, the great thing is that you’ll already have an understanding of the team dynamics, strengths and weaknesses. That comfortable rapport with everyone in the company and (hopefully) the support you’ll have from your team members prior makes communication a lot easier.

“The great thing is you’ll already have an understanding of the team dynamics, strengths and weaknesses.”

And what were the biggest challenges?

One challenge I faced was that I knew that my responsibilities had changed but putting them into practise was a different story. I needed to let go of the work I used to do and allow the other members of the team to pick it up, allowing them to start on their next journey.

“I knew that my responsibilities had changed but putting them into practise was a different story…I needed to let go of the work I use to do.”

How does the set of skills differ from a designer on the tools to one in leadership?

Leadership requires more focused skills around collaborative and conversational skills with people, along with time and stakeholder management.

Although, it’s still important to have those hard skills that you gain from being a designer on the tools. You’ll be using them with your team daily to continuously add value and guide them.

How can you strengthen these needed skills?

Self reflection is helpful to understand what your gaps are. Regular 1 on 1s with your team help you grow and understand how you can be a better leader for them. Further education is also an option. I’m very fortunate that there are people in and outside of the business willing to help and mentor me.

Do you have any other advice for others in this situation?

When people get the stage of being a lead designer, it can signify a time to change. Some people are more comfortable to move to a new company. It just depends on the person and what feels right to them.

“I would say that it’s ok not to know all the answers, so don’t try and pretend that you do. Ask your team for feedback to on how to improve and do the right thing by them. Be open to learning from those around you.”

Nobody is an expert in every design topic. I know I’m certainly not. But, I do believe that everyone has a unique experience they can offer the design community. The best way to learn from them is by asking questions.

So a huge thank you to Nathan Streater. For allowing me to pick his brain and share his experience with the design community.

Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter, and follow me on Medium for more design articles coming soon. In the meantime, why not check out these?

The Transition From Team Member to Team Lead. was originally published in prototypr on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Transition From Team Member to Team Lead.

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