Follow Me to the Land of UX!

Remember, if you want to be a leader, you’ll only need a teeny tiny thing called follower. If you're in a desert shouting "Follow me, I've found an oasis!" but nobody's listening, you're just talking to cacti. But, in the world of UX, to shout out to the masses, you need to be compelling with stories and data that make the dunes look tempting.

Imagine this scenario:

Oliver: "I've discovered the ultimate UX strategy!"

Team: "Cool! What do we do?"

Oliver "Change."

Team: "Change what?"

Oliver: "EVERYTHING."

Here's the thing – change can be as daunting as a camel deciding to be vegan. It's clouded by uncertainty, resisted by many, and heck, just hard. But we must change. Especially in the UX realm, where we often find ourselves moving from reactive practices, simply responding to things thrown at us, to proactive practices, getting ahead of the curveball (and maybe throwing a few of our own).

In strategy, our game isn't solo. It's more of a team sport. You know, where you're less the star player and most of the times you’re on the sidelines, cheering with a giant foam finger.

This is where our superhero, UX Leadership, enters the scene. Leadership isn’t about wearing fancy role or pointing fingers from the boss-chair. It's about persuasion. Because really, if you want to be a leader, all you need is that one person (or camel) to turn around and say, "Alright, I’m with you."

And how do we foster this leadership? Not just by grand gestures, but often through simple acts. Drawing on a whiteboard, using post-its, translating tech talk into UX lingo, and always, always aligning with the vision.

It's not about telling folks what to do. It’s about making sure everyone’s voice is loud, clear, and valued. It's leveling the playing field, so the title on your business card doesn’t determine your volume in the room.

Have you heard of the term Servant Leadership? It's a snazzy term coined by Robert Greenleaf. Essentially, it means leading with a focus on others, empathizing and seeking common ground. Because in the end, UX Leadership is all about serving: the organization, the users, and every voice in between.

So, next time you dream of leading, remember it’s not about where you're standing, but who’s standing with you. Because, in the end, it's all about creating an oasis where everyone wants to be. 🌵🐫🌴