5 strategies for smashing through the UX career ceiling
Weekly answers to your "How do I...?" questions
A bit of a background:
👋 Hi friend,
Thank you for your question and for reading my Linkedin posts!
Feeling stuck in your current role is a familiar feeling for many, especially when you’re ready for more strategic responsibilities but leadership seems slow to offer you that next-level position.
While your situation is common, the good news is that there are clear, actionable steps you can take to demonstrate strategic thinking and break through that proverbial career ceiling.
And it often involves more than just honing your technical skills.
One - often underrated - aspect is this —
👉 Developing and demonstrating strategic influence within your organization.
Here are 5 strategies to help you to get there ↴
1. Building Strategic Thinking:
A question to ask yourself: Am I demonstrating an understanding of the business context?
You need to show that you understand how your work impacts the broader business goals. Ask yourself:
Who are the key stakeholders, and what are their goals?
Understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders, including product managers, developers, and business leaders, will help you align your UX work with their objectives.
Why are we pursuing this project, and how does it fit into the company’s strategy?
This will allow you to make better decisions and advocate for user-centered solutions that support the overall business strategy.
2. Increasing Visibility:
A question to ask yourself: Am I showcasing my work and its impact effectively?
It's essential to communicate the value of your work clearly and frequently. Consider:
Sharing case studies and success stories within your organization.
This helps stakeholders understand the impact of your UX contributions.
Presenting your work in cross-functional meetings.
This not only increases your visibility but also demonstrates your strategic thinking and collaboration skills.