How do other UXRs feel about working with stakeholders?

Plus, build your best journey map ever with our handy roundup, and learn how to project manage as a UX designer with less stress.

In a stakeholder state of mind How successfully are researchers working with stakeholders these days, and how can we improve those relationships throughout the research cycle? dscout partnered up with Miro to investigate in the first part of this series, and the results were illuminating.   NOW WE NEED A LITTLE GIVE AND TAKE  This week's community poll Answer with a click this week, see the results in next week's newsletter.   How often should a customer journey map be updated? 1. Every few years 2. Every year 3. After a major release 4. Wait, those need updating? Journey maps abound! Creating a journey map of the user experience pays dividends for all kinds of research projects and different company teams. Whether it's your first time around or you're looking to refine your skills, this roundup provides all the information you need to create a deliverable worth its weight in gold.   TOOK THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN GOING ANYWHERE Project management 101 Managing a project as a user researcher from end to end can quickly get overwhelming. Are you setting the timeline correctly? Are your stakeholders actually engaging? This updated piece revisits how to make the process both smooth and effective. TIME AFTER TIME We are humans at the end of the day. To actually be empathetic you first have to build your own humility. Antionette Carroll President and CEO at Creative Reaction Lab Read more from Antionette on the People Nerds blog! More we're discussing: When you're in a 1-1 interview that starts to go off the tracks, don't despair. This post explores 9 challenging participant types—and tips for turning it all around. If you've ever dreamed of running your own UXR business, Nikki Anderson-Stanier is here to share how she learned to market her products and services more effectively. Mixed methods don't have to be scary. In fact, doing so can create more effective studies that really get to the heart of your objectives. Read how to execute mixed methods with ease. What we're hearing: Your eng partners offer a unique perspective on product design—they are building it, after all! Here are a few roles they can play, encouraging empathy, alignment, and innovation. Build, ship, learn, repeat...done? Not quite. A mature design thinking org—according to Erika Hall—is one that can respond comprehensively to these five questions. OpenAI's newest model has experienced pros asking a lot of questions. Berkley's Neurotech team takes a look at AI's potential for empathy, helping to clarify AI's potential. dscout is a company composed of People Nerds working to make context-rich human insight an everyday habit across organizations. The dscout platform—Diary, Live, Recruit, and Express—enables remote qualitative research that brings researchers into the moments experienced and shared by real people. Curious about the platform or working with dscout? Talk to an account executive.  dscout, 222 North LaSalle St, Chicago, IL Unsubscribe Manage preferences

Get challenging participant interviews back on track

Plus, see how one UXR business owner learned to market her services, and check out a guide that makes mixed methods easy.

9 challenging participant types Sometimes a 1-1 session starts off on the wrong foot. From the venter to the perfectionist, here's how to identify a challenging situation—then turn it into a harmonious one.   FLIP IT AND REVERSE IT Results from last week's community poll (n = 248)   When I really need to ensure insight impact, I…    47% | Use storytelling and narrative methods during shareout    22% | Drop snackable, smaller bites of findings before my report    19% | Create dynamic, engaging deliverables (e.g., workshops)    12% | Schedule follow-ups with key stakeholders Making boss moves Ever dream about being your own boss? In this installation of starting your own UXR business, Nikki Anderson-Stanier reflects on how she learned to market her products and services.   TO MARKET, TO MARKET Mixed methods made easy While blending methods may seem like it's more complicated or time-consuming, that's not always the case. In this updated piece, Ben walks you through how to interweave quant and qual to great effect.   MIX AND MINGLE Telling a good story is knowing yourself in and out, but also knowing how people view you. Meg Ferrill Marketing & Partnerships at Nimbly Read more from Meg on the People Nerds blog! More we're discussing: There's nothing worse than doing months worth of work, only to find it doesn't align with what your stakeholders wanted. One of the best ways to head that off is by focusing on project goals and outcomes first. When you're finally at the point of delivering insights, ensuring success is crucial. This roundup shows you how to make an impact with your findings, every time. Day in the Life studies allow researchers to use the traditional diary format in an innovative way. Learn when to assess if this is the right approach for your team, including how to execute it. What we're hearing: The UXRConf23 agenda is live! Check it out and grab your free ticket today. Educating stakeholders on UX methods? This card set balances detail with engagement that's share-worthy. The hybrid team is (mostly) here to stay. Here are best practices for leading creative teams today. dscout is a company composed of People Nerds working to make context-rich human insight an everyday habit across organizations. The dscout platform—Diary, Live, Recruit, and Express—enables remote qualitative research that brings researchers into the moments experienced and shared by real people. Curious about the platform or working with dscout? Talk to an account executive.  dscout, 222 North LaSalle St, Chicago, IL Unsubscribe Manage preferences