{"id":7064,"date":"2019-09-06T09:30:51","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T13:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=7064"},"modified":"2021-01-28T17:07:06","modified_gmt":"2021-01-28T22:07:06","slug":"how-design-thinking-makes-you-a-better-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/how-design-thinking-makes-you-a-better-leader","title":{"rendered":"How Design Thinking Makes You a Better Leader"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From the smartphone in our pockets to the ergonomic chairs at our office, we have all experienced the impact of design thinking \u2013 whether we realize it or not. And while this method of production has an established track record when it comes to creating beautiful, intuitive products and experiences, there is a reason to believe it can also help produce great leaders. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its core, design thinking involves finding creative solutions to problems \u2013 an essential skill for anyone in a leadership position. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Design Thinking?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe spend a lot of time designing the bridge, but not enough time thinking about the people who are crossing it, \u201d Dr. Prabhjot Singh, Special Advisor for Strategy and Design at the Peterson Center on Healthcare, once said. He was talking about the need for design thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design thinking is a methodology that Designers use to solve complex problems in a way that benefits their users. It involves developing a deep understanding of the end-user, with an emphasis on<\/span> asking questions (What really is the problem? How does this impact our users?), adopting a hands-on approach, and experimenting with potential solutions. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a real-world example, look no further than a UX Designer, who must take a hard look at a business need (redesigning a website to increase conversions) and then re-frame the problem in a human-centric way (the website is slow and tough to navigate). He or she must then work through several steps to address those needs, starting with ideation and design prototyping (including different aesthetic directions for that new website), and then testing which solution works best. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Design Thinking Process<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The design thinking process is a major principle of <\/span>user experience design<\/span><\/a> and typically follows five key steps, according to the <\/span>Interaction Design Foundation<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Empathize:<\/b> The first step in the process involves getting in the mind of your target audience. Understanding their motivations and needs means you can design a solution that they\u2019ll actually use and appreciate. <\/span><\/li>
  2. Define:<\/b> What problem is your design meant to solve? This is where you clearly define the business need and the needs of those who will use your designs.<\/span><\/li>
  3. Ideate:<\/b> You now understand your users and their needs, and defined the problem. Now you need to generate as many creative ideas as possible to solve that problem. <\/span><\/li>
  4. Prototype: <\/b>The experimental phase, where you get to act on your ideas by building potential solutions.
    <\/span><\/li>
  5. Test: <\/b>How do your designs work? Does one or more solve both the business need and the customers\u2019 need? <\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The designs created during this process don\u2019t always pan out \u2014 and that’s often the point. With this approach, you may need to lather, rinse, and repeat more than once to get the results you want.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Design Thinking Creates Great Leaders<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThe main tenet of design thinking is empathy for the people you\u2019re trying to design for,\u201d David Kelly, the Founder of IDEO, has said. \u201cLeadership is exactly the same thing \u2013 building empathy for the people that you\u2019re entrusted to help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Empathy is the key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019ve adopted the design thinking approach, you\u2019re going to try to understand the needs of your colleagues, employees, and superiors. And when you\u2019re in the habit of caring about their needs, they are more likely to care about yours, creating a reciprocal relationship that fosters loyalty and a winning company culture.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The <\/span>Parsons School of Design<\/span> found that 71 percent of organizations that practice design thinking noticed an improvement in their work culture on a team level. And according to the <\/span>2017 Businessolver Workplace Empathy Monitor<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n