How do you present your UX results?


Hi UX buddy

My sales experiment is still ongoing, and a big topic for me has been "how to showcase my results."

I called them "sellable achievements" in the last newsletter.

They fall into two categories:

  1. Quantitative = how did you deliver on metrics?
  2. Qualitative = feedback from people you have worked with.

Here's my problem...

I don't work with customer-facing applications.

I work with internal IT for employees mostly.

And my work takes place early in the project, meaning that I'm not there to see the end result.

Maybe you are in the same situation?

How to be creative?

My results are not focusing on the design.

I'm focusing on the process instead - and how I can deliver decisions and get funding approval faster.

My highlighted results (achievements) now look like this:

  • Aligned 20+ global stakeholders and secured funding for a pilot project within 8 months.
  • Unlocked a deadlocked stakeholder group and created alignment within weeks.
  • Delivered a prioritized backlog and clear requirements after 2 months of research.
  • Got leadership to recognize the need for a data strategy and initiate a new data team.
  • Built business cases that secured executive approval and funding.

It has nothing to do with conversion rates, retention, and Net Promoter Score.

These metrics don't work in my niche.

A startup would probably start laughing when they see my results.

It took you months??

But in my niche (corporate), these things can take a lot longer.

It is important that your results match your niche.

And then we are back at the sales pitch equation from the last newsletter:

What + who + why:
Your UX service niche + the problems you solve + sellable achievements (qualitative and quantitative)

Your UX results, i.e., your sellable achievements, need to match your niche and the problems you are solving.

Which metrics work for you?

And just a kind reminder...

It's not only when you are looking for a new job that these things matter.

Showcasing 1) your niche, 2) how you solve problems, and 3) how you create results...

Can also help you land your ideal projects where you work or get you that promotion.

It will help you in having a stronger voice in your organization, and you will become a stronger advocate for UX...

When you know how you create value.

A simple first step could be to ask the people you work for/with:

How am I creating value for you?

Try it out. It makes a great coffee chat.

Good luck!

- Christina // Design with Chris

Design with Chris

Hi, I'm Chris! Strategic UX designer running her own business, Design with Chris. I help product teams and designers take a strategy-first approach and make smarter design decisions. Subscribe if you want to work strategically in your UX practice.

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