Shipulski On Design

Search Results

When you want to figure out what’s next, show customers what’s possible.  This is much different than asking them what they want.  So, don’t do that.  Instead, show them a physical prototype or a one-page sales tool that explains the value they would realize. When they see what’s possible, the world changes for them.  They […]

I had the best teachers.  They taught me to assess the situation as it is before trying to improve it.  Early in my career, my leaders did not understand the importance of spending the time to define the current state.  Hurry up and fix it!  Why are you spending time analyzing the existing product? Why […]

When I was younger, I tried to fix everything right away.  See a problem, fix a problem.  Regardless of the urgency, I tried to fix it right now.  And regardless of the importance, I tried to fix it right now.  And because of this, I was always too busy to think things through.  And because […]

I’ve built engineering teams that developed the world’s most successful products in their space. At the start of the team’s migration to greatness, they don’t believe in themselves. And that’s why you, as their leader, have to believe in them.  Every day, you must tell them why you believe in them.  Every day, you must […]

There is a dearth of engineering leadership capability, and it negatively impacts the company’s bottom line every day.  And it’s prevalent in all levels of the engineering organization. Entry-level engineers feel the lack of engineering leadership capability as soon as they arrive.  They want to know how to get things done, how to address a […]

To help your team members communicate more effectively, teach them to put their argument on one page.  Teach them what to leave off the page and explain why those things should be omitted. Teach them what’s at the top of the page and explain why.  Help them identify the central element and show them how […]

There is no such thing as losing time.  Time doesn’t reverse itself, at least outside the theoretical physics textbooks. We can spend time on things that will never go anywhere, but that’s wasted time, not lost time. The trick with this type of project is to learn that there’s a fundamental constraint BEFORE running the […]

Take a position.  People will have to reconcile their thinking with yours and, together, the crew will deepen the collective understanding. Take an opposite position.  Announce you are running a thought experiment and take a position that is opposite of the prevailing theory.  Make it good.  Make it deep.  Do it for real.  The prevailing […]

What is this all about? What is the reason you do what you do? What’s your WHY behind the WHAT? When you don’t do what you said you’d do, what’s the reason? And what does that say about you? If the reason is right, I think it can be okay NOT to do something you […]

What’s the rule?  Are you sure? Where did the rule come from?  And how do you know? When the rule was created, was there also a rule that it could not be changed? Show me the rule book! Is the rule always applicable, even after hours? If the rule is limited to a certain location, […]

Good teachers change your life.  They know what you know and bring you along at a pace that’s right for you, not too slowly that you’re bored and not too quickly that your head spins. And everything they do is about you and your learning.  Good teachers prioritize your learning above all else. Chris Brown […]