As a Design lead

↘︎ A HUGE PRIVILEGE

Leading a team is a huge privilege. So I like to remain guided by the following points

'Earn' the respect of the team
Lead the team towards successful delivery
The teams well being
Individual empowerment
Provide and accept constructive critique
Protect the teams time
- Consideration of capacity vs load
- Prioritise meetings which are valuable and meaningful
Be approachable and ever present
Be empathetic and genuine
Define and refine ways of working, which work in everyone's best interest
Provide support, for capturing clear requirements and expectations
Set solid foundations, by ensuring all stakeholders have a mutual respect and understanding of each other's needs.
Honest and open retrospectives
Understand and be comfortable with everyones strengths and weaknesses - including your own
Have the back of each team member, wether they be FTE or Contractor

↘︎ HISTORY

Although I had led teams prior to joining Thomson Reuters. At that time, I made a conscious effort to remain hands on.

Reason being, although I had both managed and practiced UX throughout my career. I hadn't had a job title, that included UX.

My aim, was to earn my stripes.

I truly believe it's beneficial to have walked in the shoes of those around you. Along with showing a genuine interest in the requirements of your wider stakeholders. As this helps to iron out any creases, early on.

Most recently, as Senior Design Manager at the London Stock Exchange.

I was tasked with simultaneously leading multiple, multidisciplinary teams.

This obviously comes with its challenges.

Less opportunity to be hands on
Many projects to understand
Time management
Many team members and stakeholders to support
Accommodating last minute requests from your own line managers. But I guess that's the point of being Agile!

↘︎ WHY I TOOK THE LEAP

As we all know, leading a team is not for everyone. Many designers prefer to stay 100% hands on.

My love of leadership became evident, when I shook off a little imposter syndrome, and realised my experience and attitude, may have miraculously positioned me, as someone I would have liked to have had as a team lead.

But more importantly, when I noticed I had received unsolicited praise from my peers and other stakeholders.

I firmly believe great leadership can only be measured by those around you. So I sometimes feel a little uncomfortable about job tiles.

I just see myself as another member of the team. But with an added focus upon team health, overall quality and delivery.

"I also like to believe, no product designer ever aims to end their day, with the product being worse than it was in the morning."

People leader feedback

↘︎ It's the opinion of those around us, that tell the real story.

Aleksandrs, Team Member

"I had been working with Mike for almost 11 years. During this period, I can't even count how many projects we delivered together, starting from small apps for Thomson Reuters to full mobile experience of LSEG Workspace and much more.

For me Mike became one of those people who shifted and moved my career and personal growth to another level. It's quite unusual these days to meet a person with so much dedication to the field and to the people he is working with.

Mike joined my team as a very skilled UX designer and grew his career within our organisation to a team leading position where he supported, mentored and lifted many designers. Mike would be a great extension to any design team as a true professional and a super nice person in general."

Inna, Team Member

"I had the privilege of working with Mike at LSEG, and I am pleased to recommend him for any leadership or strategical role in the design field.

As a Principal Designer and Senior Design Manager, Mike was highly effective in guiding the design team through complex challenges while ensuring that every member felt valued and involved. He brought structure and, as a part of the design team, I always knew I can ask Mike for a help and we'll work on a solution together.

What sets Mike apart is his tremendous experience in design, empathy and people-first approach. He took the time to understand each team member's strengths and needs, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. This not only improved team morale, but also boosted creativity and efficiency.

For example, during design critique sessions or project demo's with design team, Mike was encouraging everyone to share, helping to be seen and heard. Also, I enjoyed our regular 1-2-1 sessions as Mike always was caring about me as a person, while giving professional advices.

Mike’s empathy and professionalism ensured that the team remained focused and productive, even under pressure and tight deadlines. He is a natural leader and a great manager who consistently brings out the best in others.

I highly recommend Mike for any design leadership role and am confident he will continue to make a meaningful impact. I wish to have a possibility to work with Mike in a future."