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

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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

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Links & resources mentioned

• Send episode feedback on Twitter @askotzko , or via email

• Steve Portigal: website, LinkedIn

• Book: Interviewing Users

• Podcast: Dollars to Donuts

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Related episodes

• #3 Christina Wodtke: Unleashing potential with extraordinary teams

• #62 Sahil Lavingia: Independent Thinking & Pricing at Gumroad

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Books

• Interviewing Users

• Don’t Make Me Think

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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

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Steve Portigal: Improving your user research process