A UX Strategist's Guide to
Driving Projects and Influencing Teams
This guide goes beyond the technical aspects of UX to equip professionals with the essential soft skills—in areas such as negotiation, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence—needed to excel in their careers.
Table of Contents
This guide is a work-in-progress where I will post the results as I go. All of the content will be hosted on my LinkedIn page. This table of contents will collect all those pieces into an organized structure.
Chapter 1: Know Yourself
Understanding your own strengths, blind spots, and biases isn't just self-help fluff—it's the foundation that determines whether you'll deliver results or get stuck spinning your wheels.
Check Your Ego At The Door: Good design ideas can come from anywhere, even developers
Emotional Intelligence: Don’t let your emotions be in control
Don’t Be The “I Told You So” Guy: It’s annoying and unproductive
Chapter 2: Presentation Strategies
Strong communication is key for UX professionals to present solutions and drive strategy.
The Present First Strategy: The fine art of avoiding a defensive stance
The Design Filibuster: Drown them in strategy and data to get what you want
Present Present Present: Always be presenting
Present With Passion: Let your enthusiasm for your work and the client show
When You Get It Wrong: Sometimes you're right, and sometimes you learn something
Chapter 3: Getting Work Done
The professionals who drive projects forward aren't necessarily the most creative—they're the ones who know how to focus a room and move people toward decisions.
Always Come With a Draft: The Unifying Power of Something to React To
The Big Reveal: Why Saving Your Best Work for Last Is a Terrible Strategy
Chapter 4: Thinking Strategically
Many professionals spend their careers executing tasks without questioning whether they're solving the right problems or maximizing their impact. Strategic thinking is what separates designers who "make things pretty" from those who shape product direction and influence business outcomes. When you connect design decisions to business goals and articulate the why behind your work, you stop being an order-taker and become someone executives will be eager listen to.
Strategic vs. Tactical Thinking: Why Both Matter
Chapter 5: Working With Developers
Chapter 6: Leading Others
About Me, Patrick McNeil
With 24 years of experience, I specialize in creating exceptional user experiences by finding win-win solutions that benefit users while securing buy-in from designers, developers, and business stakeholders. My success is rooted in a deep sense of empathy and a solid understanding of how every decision impacts all parties involved.