Thread by @joenatoli

Ever wonder why executives and bosses are often so resistant to doing #UX work?

Why they seem to become personally offended at the very mention of user research or #IA or prototyping, in a way as if you were suggesting a diabolical plot to overthrow the government?

(1/9)

From "we don’t have time for that," to "we know what our customers want," to "just make the #UI better looking," the wall of rejection is thrown up fast and furious.

Where does this come from, and more importantly, how do you deal with it?

(2/9)

Let’s start here: most people in management or executive positions can’t truly see what’s broken, because they’re usually only looking at the side that’s working.

And in reality, it's not their fault.

(3/9)

It’s a product of the role they play in product development and their position in the chain. Their view of things is born from precise requirements + specs, detailed meeting notes, perfect MS Project schedules that deliver a crisp, ordered view of the road forward.

(4/9)

And in many cases, all of that is reported to them by their next-in-command, who’s often afraid to show or say anything that suggests even the slightest problem or lack of control.

(side note: when in doubt, remember that job security is a powerful, powerful motivator)

(5/9)

What they are not seeing, and are rarely exposed to, is the messy reality of how their products *actually* get used.

The result of all this is a dance where you get stuck in an endless cycle.

(6/9)

It's a hamster wheel of revising your work, showing it to the stakeholders, them rejecting and changing everything, you revising, them rejecting, on and on until you run out of time and something must be launched.

(7/9)

Put another way: you roll the rock up the hill and they roll it back down.

Here’s the thing: there’s a reason that happens. And it has nothing to do with you. It also has nothing to do with whether or not they buy this "#UX stuff."

(8/9)

I talk about these reasons in a new video available now at my UX 365 Academy, my affordable alternative to grossly overpriced (+ underdelivering) bootcamps:

learn.givegoodux.com/p/understandin…

I’ll walk through why execs are so resistant to #UX work — and what you can do about it.

(9/9)