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π My silly little feel-good super-sentimental research hack
Published 10 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
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Hey Reader,
I don't know about you, but fall is always a busy season for me. And I don't mind it -- I like to take a lot of time off in December/January, so I try to cram as much work into the fall as I can. The holiday break is really the only time my husband and I take a bunch of time off just for us (since our daughter is in daycare on most of the days). We really look forward to our little grown-ups staycation, but I feel like I'm always going crazy with projects during the fall in order to feel like I've truly "earned" it.
By the way, you're going to see an announcement from me tomorrow about the next cohort of User Interview Skills for Designers & PMs. It's the last cohort I'm going to offer this year, and there will be a big early bird discount for just a couple of days, so stay tuned π.
β¨ My silly little feel-good super-sentimental research hack
There's nothing more exciting to open than a love letter.
When I worked at Shopify, they put a lot of emphasis put on showing evidence that you were making an impact with your work. I get it why this is important, but it felt excessive at times -- I remember my manager would make me fill out this elaborate spreadsheet for each of our 1:1s where I had to list all of the times my research had been referenced by a product team, or a stakeholder had shouted me out on Slack, or someone had come to me with a question about research. I felt like I was constantly having to prove myself at a job that they supposedly thought I was perfect for, and it was a bit exhausting.
That experience probably made me a bit neurotic, but it did develop a great habit in me -- I now keep track of all of the times someone says something nice about my work.
Hello Kudos folder, my old friend.
Meet my Kudos folder. Anytime a client, collaborator, training participant, mentee, or newsletter reader (hi!) says something that touches my heart or indicates that I've made a big impact with my work, I take a screenshot and stash it away in here. β
I often look back on this sweet message from a member of a client's research team.
β Having this folder makes me a better researcher, and here are a few reasons why I think it's worth your time to make one too:
The biggest benefit IMO is having concrete evidenceof your greatness at your fingertips to share in performance reviews, job interviews, or your website. β
It gives you an instant confidence boost when you're experiencing some impostor syndrome or just aren't feeling your best. β
It can help you becomemore aware of what others notice and appreciate in your work. Sometimes people have noted some things that I didn't even realize I did. β
It's just kinda fun to look at every so often! β
Pretty much the nicest thing someone could say about a research report!
β Go and create your own Kudos folder right now, even if you don't have anything to add yet! It only takes a second, and just having one set up will help you remember to be on the lookout for stuff to throw in there. Seriously -- do it NOW πββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈ
ποΈ Events
September 25: Overcoming portfolio & interview struggles
Are you struggling to craft a portfolio that truly represents your skills and lands you that first interview? Learn to build a portfolio that not only tells your story but also aligns with what hiring managers are looking for.
September 26: Turn scary networking into job leads
Researcher & ex-recruiter Lena Kul will provide you with a system for targeting the right individuals who could make a difference in your job search, and guidance on how to build your networking system to maximize results.
September 27: Invisible women: Exploring the gender data gap
Join 4 seasoned research leaders for a panel discussion about inclusivity in research, building on themes from Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez.
Have you ever felt that your insights are overlooked, your deliverables fail to resonate with decision-makers, or your insights don't reach across the company? This session will guide you through a framework to help you increase the awareness, impact, and value of your work.
Takes like this drive me nuts. No, not every designer needs to be some unicorn generalist who does all of these things -- including manage themselves?? π
One of the reasons I do this newsletter is more and more designers are building research into their design practice -- I think that's awesome! But "research" is a huge set of activities that goes far beyond what a designer should be spending time on in their role...and that's why we need researchers too.
π Tools & Resources
Article - Evaluating your MVP with mixed methods research
A live MVP that doesnβt provide any learning opportunities is worthless. The final chapter of this 3-part series covers defining how you'll collect data, evaluating your MVP from multiple angles, and considering how to incorporate the learnings.
Book - The Routledge Companion to practicing anthropology & design
This book homes in on both the growing convergence and tensions between these fields while exploring how individuals from both have found ways of mixing, experimenting, and evolving theory and new forms of practice. It's a pricey book but they have a 20% promo running!
Podcast episode - Giulia Tumminelli on transitioning from product to UXR
I've met folks who have transitioned from UXR to product, but not the other way around. Check out this episode to hear Giulia's journey through a less-common career trajectory.
Article - How a UXR's responsibilities change with experience
This final chapter of a 3-part series on UXR careers examines 1,396 user research job descriptions to create a data-driven, company-agnostic career ladder.
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Hey Reader, I hope your week is getting off to a great start! I'm going on vacation tomorrow for a week, and I'm super pumped about it. Taking vacation can be difficult sometimes as a consultant/freelancer, and the timing of this one isn't particularly great (I started 2 new projects this week π). Work/life balance is really important to me and my family so I always try to squeeze in a few vacations each year, but the lead-up to it is always stressful! β¨ Boost your response rate with...
Hey Reader, My friend, it's been awhile -- the last issue of Research for All was over a month ago! I intended to get something sent out last week but I was just too swamped with a big research project. I'm really excited to be back today (even though it's Wednesday and I normally send these out on Tuesdays, oops). I hope your year is getting off to a great start. I just got back from a long weekend somewhere nice and warm, which was perfect aside from getting stung by a π on the bottom of my...
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