Steve Portigal: Improving your user research process

Steve Portigal is a veteran user research leader and consultant who helps companies mature their research practices. He’s the author of Interviewing Users, a classic in the field, and the host of the design leadership podcast Dollars to Donuts. In this conversation, we explore:• how to use creative practices to develop your voice as a leader and storyteller• how to be a smart consumer of research findings when you aren’t an expert in the craft of research• one simple question leaders can ask to set their organizations to make the most of research• and how to create the conditions for high-impact, effective creative work in your team—Topics discussed(10:21) Experimenting with writing and finding one's voice(15:47) Feedback model: GASP - goals, attempts, successes, possibilities(19:53) Workshops, creativity, and self-doubt(27:06) Embrace authenticity, find your unique facilitation style(28:10) Appreciating different approaches, understanding executives' skepticism(34:37) Engage with compassion(39:29) Research is essential for informed decision-making(49:01) Compassion and reflection are crucial for leaders(50:48) Create a safe learning space for engagement(56:03) Assessing code quality and marketing effectiveness(01:00:39) Research raises questions, timing and deployment important(01:10:31) Stay fascinated with the world around you—Links & resources mentioned• Send episode feedback on Twitter @askotzko , or via email• Steve Portigal: website, LinkedIn• Book: Interviewing Users• Podcast: Dollars to Donuts—Related episodes• #3 Christina Wodtke: Unleashing potential with extraordinary teams• #62 Sahil Lavingia: Independent Thinking & Pricing at Gumroad—Books• Interviewing Users• Don’t Make Me Think—Other resources• Great User Research (for Non-Researchers)• When to Use Which User-Experience Research Methods• Nielsen: Why You Only Need to Test with 5 Users This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.makethingsthatmatter.com