This week’s question is one I hear from many of you, almost daily:

How can I introduce the idea of upfront UX work and planning, in a way that my managers will actually consider it?

We humans are naturally resistant to anything new. Whether it’s because we’re unfamiliar with the topic at hand or are just uncomfortable with change, we’re comfortable sticking with what we know.

Your product owners, managers and even your fellow team members are no different. It’s hard for them to let go of the ways they’ve always done things, because they have no sense of what result the change you’re proposing will bring.

And traditionally, design work — and by extension UX work — has always been seen as a cost; as a nice-to-have that gets tacked on to the end of a project if the budget will allow. Historically they’ve largely gotten by without it, so this conversation can be a difficult one.

It’s one you can win, however.

The trick is to get them to see upfront UX work — from user research to persona and prototype development — as an investment instead of an expense.

As something that returns value greater than what it costs.

Check out this latest edition of Tuesdays with Joe to learn how to do just that.

Wishing you success in all you do — GIVE GOOD UX!

— Joe

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