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<p><a href="https://uxplanet.org/how-to-be-a-great-ux-mentor-34726f56babd?source=rss----819cc2aaeee0---4">UX Planet &mdash; Medium</a> | Saadia Minhas </p>
<h4>Tips on Effective Mentorship of Junior UX Designers</h4>
<p><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*wisBiHMxW8ji_Jvhnc3yQQ.jpeg"></p>
<h3>What is UX Mentorship?</h3>
<p>Becoming a UX mentor requires a lot of efforts, hard work and experience in the field.</p>
<blockquote><p>“It is not necessary that a mentor is working in some senior executive role, but he should be able to help his mentees in growing their careers using his personal and work experience.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The role of a mentor is a combination of multiple skills.</p>
<p>A mentor behaves like a teacher, a coach, an adviser, a therapist and a counselor at the same time. He inspires his mentees through his words and actions.</p>
<blockquote><p>“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” — William Arthur Ward</p></blockquote>
<h3>How To Be A Great UX Mentor?</h3>
<p>To become a great UX mentor, you must have certain qualities that make your job easier for you and effective for your mentees.</p>
<p>A list of such qualities is mentioned below.</p>
<h3>№1. Ask About Interest</h3>
<p>If you are going to mentor someone outside of your work environment, the first thing is to ask about their interest.</p>
<blockquote><p>“UX is a field that requires interest in solving design problems.”</p></blockquote>
<p>If you are a UX mentor within your organization, it is obvious that UX designers are hired based on their interest.</p>
<p>However, if you feel that your mentee is not much <a href="https://uxdworld.com/tag/uxpassion/">passionate </a>about UX design, then raise the point at your earliest.</p>
<h3>№2. Explain Your Process</h3>
<p>Most of the organizations follow the standard <a href="https://uxdworld.com/2018/04/23/user-experience-design-process/">design process</a> to deliver product design. However, there can be customization in the process based on particular requirements.</p>
<blockquote><p>“It is essential to explain junior members about the process being followed within your organization. Introduce them with stakeholders that are involved in the process.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Tell them about your customers and their problems.</p>
<blockquote><p>“They should be able to learn how to deal with customers and how to understand their requirements.”</p></blockquote>
<h3>№3. Explain Guidelines and Trends</h3>
<p>Each organization follows a set of <a href="https://uxdworld.com/2018/04/09/why-you-need-ui-guidelines/">UX guidelines</a> and standards while designing their products.</p>
<p>Provide your guidelines to junior members, and explain them the importance of consistent experience throughout your products.</p>
<p>Ask them to follow the guidelines while working on design tasks.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Welcome their feedback and suggestions that you may like to incorporate within your standards.”</p></blockquote>
<h3>№4. Develop Research Interest</h3>
<p>Research is very important for growth of your mentees.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Try hard to develop research interest in your mentees. This will help them to make their vision broader, and thinking beyond limitations.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Looking around and taking inspiration from multiple sources will enhance their key skills including <strong>critical thinking, problem solving and creativity</strong>.</p>
<blockquote><p>“A good mentor pushes their mentee to get creative with what they already know.” — Anne Higgins</p></blockquote>
<h3>№5. Don’t Give Solution</h3>
<p>Discuss design problems with your mentees, but never give them a solution.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Let them dive into thinking and exploring the problem. This will improve their analytical and problem solving skills.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Do brainstorming sessions with them. Share your own experiences and ask them to come up with different ideas.</p>
<h3>№6. Be Available</h3>
<p>When you have given some tasks to team members, make sure to remain available for them.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Show your support and care about them.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Be there when they need you, this will help you gain their trust and loyalty. Believe me, they will perform beyond their specific duties if they feel valued and supported.</p>
<h3>№7. Develop Patience</h3>
<p>Designing is an iterative process and it requires patience.</p>
<p>Most of the time you will have to ask them to go and refine their work.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Teach them to remain patient at certain points during their job.”</p></blockquote>
<p>It is not possible to design something impressive just in one go. They have to design again and again. Help them in increasing their patience level.</p>
<h3>№8. Give Ownership</h3>
<p>Let them take the ownership of their work. Ask them to present their work to relevant stakeholders and defend their ideas.</p>
<p>This will give them a feeling of responsibility. And they will try hard to provide best possible solution to the given problem.</p>
<h3>№9. Share Knowledge</h3>
<p>It is correct that you don’t have to spoon feed them, but you should be open to help them in response to their queries and confusions.</p>
<p>Do knowledge sharing sessions with them.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Share your experience with them and provide them essential resources and guidance.”</p></blockquote>
<h3>№10. Give Appreciation</h3>
<blockquote><p>“Appreciation is a fundamental human need.”</p></blockquote>
<p>It is the key to keep your mentees motivated. Show genuine appreciation to your mentees.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Praise their ideas and admire them. Give them credit of their work. And you will be surprised with the positive results.”</p></blockquote>
<h3>№11. Be Patient</h3>
<p>A mentor should remain patient while working with junior members. You may have to describe things again and again.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Listen and ask questions in positive way. Correct their mistakes politely. Be gentle and strict at the same time.”</p></blockquote>
<h3>№12. Evaluate</h3>
<p>It is a common practice to evaluate the work of team members. Always try to do it in a positive way.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Set your expectations as per their expertise, and evaluate them as per their level of experience.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Identify their shortcomings politely. Do not judge them or discourage them. Respect their opinions and ideas.</p>
<h3>№13. Learn From Mentees</h3>
<p>That’s true. There is much more for you to learn from your mentees.</p>
<blockquote><p>“They have fresh minds and thoughts. They can identify improvements in your process as well as in your way of thinking and viewing things. “</p></blockquote>
<p>UX is a very subjective field. Anyone can give you a new insight of things.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Never underestimate the ideas of fresh UX designers in industry.”</p></blockquote>
<h3>№14. Connect With Other Mentors</h3>
<p>As a mentor you need to connect with other experts of the field. Share your experience and exchange useful resources with them.</p>
<p>Collaborating with your peers and taking help from them is a great example for your mentees.</p>
<blockquote><p>“It will develop an overall supportive environment where everyone learns from others.”</p></blockquote>
<h3>Final Thoughts…</h3>
<p>UX mentorship is essential for junior UX designers to help them succeed in their <a href="https://uxdworld.com/2018/03/31/how-to-standout-at-start-of-your-ux-career/">career</a>.</p>
<p>Being a UX mentor, you have a huge responsibility to deliver your knowledge and advice to next generation, and give your time to listen to their issues and resolve them.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Investing deeply in their learning and growth will eventually makes you more successful and satisfied.”</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Thanks for reading. Find more related articles at </strong><a href="http://www.uxdworld.com"><strong>UXDWorld.com</strong></a></p>
<p><strong><em>Follow me: </em></strong><a href="https://medium.com/@saadiam"><strong><em>Medium </em></strong></a><strong><em>| </em></strong><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/saadia-minhas-69781547"><strong><em>Linkedin </em></strong></a><strong><em>| </em></strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SaadiaUX"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a></p>
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<p><a href="https://uxplanet.org/how-to-be-a-great-ux-mentor-34726f56babd">How To Be A Great UX Mentor?</a> was originally published in <a href="https://uxplanet.org">UX Planet</a> on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.</p>


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