Interview with Peter Merholz

How did you make the jump into leadership?

Tell us about your typical day. Is it all meetings?

It’s many meetings! At the start of the week, my day is typically meetings, either team meetings or one-to-one’s. As the week progresses, the meetings drop off, and I have more time for various projects. I currently have around 3–4 things I’m helping lead. Now, I often have meetings about these things, but they’re not typical ‘meetings’ — they’re usually more like working sessions.

What was the last thing you “designed”?

My organisational structure! Though, if I take this with the intent I suspect it was asked, it would be some mobile ideation I did about 3 years ago.

What makes a great design leader?

A combination of creative vision, managerial sensitivity, and operational savvy.

What do most new leaders get wrong?

They don’t let go of the work. If you’re leading a team of 5–6, continuing to do some work makes sense. If your team gets beyond 10, then any detailed design work you’re doing is taking away from the value that only you can provide. New leaders need to learn to delegate.

How would you describe your own leadership style?

Casual, supportive, listening, empowering. I try to place authority and responsibility within my leadership team, and see my role as one of supporting them and their respective teams.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced managing people?

Handling difficult, typically aggressive, personalities.

What are your views on distributed teams?

It’s reality. Most of the teams I’ve lead have been distributed. While it’s not ideal for doing the best design work, there are ways of helping them succeed. I endeavour to never have a lone designer in any location. Always at least two, if not three, so there can be a design community, even if it’s little. Also, I try to have designers work with co-located product managers and engineers.

What one piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Even though you’re not an asshole, you can often come across as an asshole, and no one wants to be around an asshole. Don’t say the first thing that comes to your mouth, temper your critical feedback, and remember nearly everyone is trying to do their best.

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