The way organizations are approaching product development and emerging technologies are constantly changing. At the same time our practice as designers is evolving with new tools, techniques, and approaches, surfacing at a pace that can be hard to keep up with. What does this mean for us as leaders of teams (big or small)? How can we lead teams in progressive orgs going through digital transformation or orgs that are slower to adapt? By focusing on developing certain skills, disciplines, and characteristics, within ourselves as leaders, we prepare ourselves for the challenges we face when leading our teams and working with our partners. We also set ourselves up to be leaders that can coach, nurture, and elevate our teams to be best equipped for the challenges they face as they execute on their work. In this presentation, Aaron will share insights, tools, and techniques (from personal success and failures) for growing his own leadership skills, overcoming leadership challenges, and successfully developing teams. Takeaways: Gauging and improving our EQ as leaders. The role of vulnerability and transparency in successful leadership. Adaptive communication and leadership styles for different types of team members and partners. Leading through enabling autonomy. Creating personal norms for successful leadership.

1. Leading successfully,
by leading ourselves.
Aaron “Ron” Irizarry - @aaroni
Head of Credit Solutions Design - Capital One

2. “Leadership is not about being in
charge. Leadership is about taking
care of those in your charge.”
~ Simon Sinek
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3. Assess and improve our EQ.
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4. Self-Awareness
The ability to recognize and understand your moods,
emotions, and drives, as well as their effect on others.
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5. Self-Regulation
The ability to control or re-direct disruptive impulses
and moods, to suspend judgement… To think before acting.
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6. Motivation
A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money
or status. The ability to pursue goals with energy
and persistence.
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7. Empathy
The ability to understand the emotional makeup of
other people. Skilled in treating people according to
their emotional reactions.
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8. Social Skills
Proficiency in managing relationships and building
networks. An ability to find common ground.
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9. Lead with Vulnerability
and Transparency.
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10. When we are not transparent,
we erode trust, and encourage
assumption driven thinking.
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11. Show your team that you trust
them enough to share fears,
concerns, or setbacks with them.
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12. Communicating openly with
candor encourages collaboration,
collaboration that is rooted in trust.
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13. Adapt our communication styles
and leadership approaches.
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14. Make an effort to recognize how
the way I communicate
impacts others.
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15. Take the time to consider how
different perspectives, situations,
and contexts affect understanding
and perception.
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16. Be intentional in planning for
situations where ambiguity is
present, or confusion is possible.
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17. Take note of team member and
partner communication style and
learn to communicate on their terms.
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18. Lead through autonomy
and enablement.
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19. Model an autonomous working style.
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20. Get of the fu*king way.
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21. Bulid an understanding of your
team’s experiences, skills, and
challenges, that allows you to
enable them.
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22. Create a vision statement that
teams can use as a north star,
and hold ourselves (and them)
accountable to it.
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23. Check in with your team on a regular
basis to hear from them about what is
working, what isn’t, and where they
need you to show up.
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24. Establish personal norms.
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25. Our vibe sets a tone for the space
in which our teams work.
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26. Manage our time well so that we
can be present for our teams.
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27. Invest in our own personal
development.
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28. Establish healthy routines.
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29. Get a therapist.
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30. Vibe check.
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31. How we respond to frustrating
situations sends a message to
our teams.
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32. How we process and carry anxiety
has an impact on our team.
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33. How we talk about our partners
sends a message to our team.
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34. Our vibe sets a tone for the space
in which our teams work.
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35. I got u.
We got u.
U got this.
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36. Thank you.
Aaron “Ron” Irizarry - @aaroni
Head of Credit Solutions Design - Capital One