Leadership Profile - Radar Chart
Rate yourself 1-10 on each of the competencies to see where you are in your development.
The leadership profile focuses on three areas of expertise required of creative leaders: Vision, Team, and Execution. We’ve identified critical skills associated with each area of responsibility to help you map out a plan for growth. Most UX leadership roles require skills in at least two areas. All three are required at high levels within most organizations.
Vision
A visionary leader identifies inspiring futures or possibilities and rallies others around the vision. They harness their natural creativity to craft a vision that is compelling for customers and aligns strategically with business needs for ultimate success and impact.
Thinks Big
Creates an exciting, clear and actionable vision
Challenges status quo, explores new methods and directions through a strategic lens
Inspires and energizes others through their creative confidence and visionary thinking
Creates a Narrative
Engages others through strong storytelling and presentation skills
Develops a powerful narrative so that others “get” the vision and feel engaged
Inspires Change
Drives change through persuasive skills
Masters social dynamics to influence others across all levels of an organization to gather support and momentum for ideas
Defines Quality
Has a high standard for quality
Defines what “good” looks like by establishing a bar for execution and explaining the principles behind those decisions
Advocates for Design
Advocates for holistic, human-centered approaches internally and externally
Develops internal understanding and capabilities
Inspires action through user advocacy
Connects the value of design to business objectives
Team
Great people managers build loyal teams through outstanding social skills, emotional intelligence, and authenticity. They lead and connect through values, playing a critical role within the organization in developing a healthy culture.
Builds Connections
Develops meaningful working relationships with individuals
Attracts talent through connection
Has high emotional intelligence and excellent listening skills
Catalyzes Performance
Drives results and productivity at the individual level
Creates clear expectations for performance and development
Manages poor performance with speed and care
Creates accountability and incentive systems
Develops People
Actively works to develop both the hard and soft skills of each individual on the team
Sees and develops new growth opportunities for high-performers
Is an effective mentor who has a vested interest in each person’s success and growth
Architects Organizations
Builds a common identity and purpose for the team
Develops clear organizational structures, career paths, and individual roles
Develops cooperative relationships and dynamics
Cultivates Culture
Focuses on creating an environment and organization where creativity thrives
Encourages healthy and productive working behaviors
Develops culture by establishing and embodying values
Execution
In addition to crafting a vision for the organization, great creative leaders ensure that the vision actually comes to life. They effectively navigate the complexities of operationalizing a team and their initiatives with decisiveness and flexibility.
Maintains Focus
Plans, prioritizes and manages focus across initiatives
Drives results and productivity at project or initiative level
Focused on solutions and problem-solving
Ensures projects create business impact progress
Guides work
Creates feedback loops (e.g. reviews, critique)
Actively participates in guiding the work
Ensures the quality of the work is improving to meet expectations
Drives Decisions
Comfortably navigates complexity, risk and tradeoffs to make rapid, critical decisions to ensure progress
Recognizes modes of decision making including consulting, advising and delegating
Gathers buy-in and invokes accountability
Develops Process
Develops iteratively on product development processes that help deliver on the mission and ensure excellence
Ensures effective team resourcing practices
Confidently makes changes to process and team practices, while continuing to learn and improve
Creates Partnerships
Cultivates cooperative relationships within creative and cross-functional teams
Partners closely with cross-functional peers
Drives alignment and develops a larger purpose/goal
Manages conflict effectively
Examples