Self-development

Self-development is the ongoing process of learning, improving and keeping your skills up to date.

It helps you deliver high-quality user research, build your confidence and prepare for future career opportunities. It also helps strengthen the wider user research profession.

You have regular opportunities to discuss your development goals, strengths and career aspirations with your people manager through GROW (Growth, Reflection, Opportunity and Wellbeing).

Self-development can help you:

• improve your research skills
• build confidence in ethics and governance
• work more effectively with stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams
• improve the quality of your outputs
• learn from experience and feedback
• develop leadership skills
• prepare for future opportunities and career progression

Areas for development

When planning your development, it can be helpful to consider a range of skills and experiences.

Research practice

• planning and designing research
• choosing appropriate research methods
• analysing and synthesising findings
• communicating insights clearly
• understanding and measuring impact
• accessibility and inclusive research practices
• research ethics
• safeguarding
• informed consent
• data protection
• working with vulnerable or underrepresented users

Stakeholder engagement

• building relationships
• facilitating workshops and activities
• presenting research findings
• influencing decisions with evidence
• collaborating across disciplines

Leadership and professional contribution

• mentoring and coaching
• supporting other researchers
• sharing knowledge and good practice
• peer review and quality assurance
• contributing to communities of practice

Emerging skills and knowledge

• artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
• developments in user research
• service design and product development
• changing user needs and expectations

Ways to learn

There is no single approach to self-development. Learning can take many forms.

Formal learning

• training courses
• development programmes
• accredited qualifications
• conferences and events

Informal learning

• books, blogs and articles
• podcasts and videos
• webinars
• professional communities

Learning from others

• coaching
• mentoring
• shadowing
• peer support
• communities of practice

Learning through reflection

• project retrospectives
• lessons learned activities
• feedback from colleagues and stakeholders
• reviewing what worked well and what could be improved

Learning on the job

• co-facilitating research
• trying new methods
• supporting complex projects
• working alongside experienced researchers

Development time

We recognise the importance of continuous learning and development.

Within DDaT, colleagues are encouraged to spend up to half a day each sprint on self-development activities. Managers and researchers should make every effort to protect this time and discuss progress through regular GROW conversations.

You can find more information about GROW on My Hub.

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