🤫 The Silent Career Killer #2
Ignoring the "Art of Internal Persuasion | Unmasking 50 hidden threats to your UX career | part 2 of 50
👋 Hi UX friend, Marina here!
Welcome to this week’s “Secrets to Career Success” 🔒 subscriber-only edition 🔒 of UX Mentor Diaries.
This newsletter series is my attempt to share what I've learned - often the hard way - about the silent career “sins” you may not even realize you’re committing and show easy ways to fix them to propel your career forward - as soon and as fast as possible.
If you’re not a paid subscriber, here’s what you missed:
Today, we're focusing on a career-defining skill that's often overlooked in the design world. It's time to talk about the Art of Internal Persuasion.
If you're treating all stakeholders the same, you're not just missing opportunities - you're actively sabotaging your UX career.
Here is why:
Stalled Projects:
Your brilliant designs get stuck in approval limbo, not because they're bad, but because you didn't speak the right "language" to the right person.
Credibility Erosion:
Over time, you're seen as the "wireframe person" rather than a strategic partner.
Missed Opportunities:
High-visibility projects go to others who can "sell" their ideas better, even if their UX chops aren't as strong.
Resource Starvation:
You struggle to get budget or time for crucial user research because you can't articulate its value in terms stakeholders care about.
When is this a problem? Always, but especially...
During project kickoffs:
When initial buy-in can make or break your involvement.
In cross-functional meetings:
Where competing priorities clash and you need allies.
During design reviews:
When your work is under scrutiny from multiple angles.
In budget seasons:
When resources are allocated and your projects are on the line.
And it's not just for the leaders…
Junior Designers:
Yes, even you. Start early, stand out fast.
Mid-Levels & Seniors:
This is your ticket to leading projects and teams.
UX Leads:
Your ability to persuade internally directly impacts your team's success and resources.
UX Researchers:
Your insights are only as valuable as your ability to make them heard and acted upon.
Does Alex's story sound familiar?
Alex was a talented lead UX designer at a mid-sized tech company.
He prided himself on his design skills!
But...
Alex would present the same detailed usability reports to engineers, product managers, and C-suite executives.
When asked to give a quick overview of a project, he'd insist on walking through his entire design process, often losing his audience.
His team started leaving him out of key stakeholder meetings, fearing he'd go into too much detail and derail the conversation.
3 months later, Alex was passed over for a Director position.
The feedback he received was: "Exceptional design skills, but struggles to communicate effectively across the organization."This scenario plays out in companies every day, stunting the careers of otherwise brilliant UXers.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
One way to understand the organizational landscape is with The Power-Interest Matrix
To avoid Alex's fate, we need to start by understanding the complex landscape of organizational influence.
Enter the Power-Interest Matrix:
This matrix divides stakeholders into four crucial categories:
High Power, High Interest (DRIVERS - Manage Closely)
High Power, Low Interest (BLOCKERS - Keep Satisfied)
Low Power, High Interest (DEFENDERS - Keep Informed)
Low Power, Low Interest (BYSTANDERS - Monitor)
Understanding where each of your stakeholders falls on this matrix is crucial.