I remember one particular incident that I’ve been wanting to talk about. It was a standard “Round Robin” status update on a video call—the kind we’ve all been through. The grid of cameras was a sea of weary eyes and half-empty coffee mugs. ☕️🥱
The update I gave went smoothly: “The design team will be wrapping up the current sprint by the end of the month. We’re ready for the next challenge.” ✅
Then came the response—the one that makes every creative in the room internally cringe. Our manager—let’s call him ‘Spreadsheet Sam’—nods. He doesn’t see a “team.” He doesn’t see “problem solvers.” 🧠
“Great,” Sam says, his eyes reflecting the blue light of a resource allocation tool. “That means we’ll have two more ‘resources’ becoming available for the next project.” 📊🤖
The Record Scratch: 🎙️💥 Wait. A “resource”?
Am I a stapler sitting in a drawer? 📎 A spare HDMI cable tangled in a box? 🔌 Or just another carton of oat milk in the office fridge? 🥛
Last I checked, I don’t come with a “Warranty Void if Removed” sticker. I have a name. I have a craft. I have a perspective. 💡
The “Spreadsheet Sam” Perspective 🧐
Before we judge Sam too harshly, let’s look at the other side of the screen. To a busy manager, “Resource” is a “safe” corporate word. It’s clinical. It’s how the software labels us. When you’re juggling 50 people across 10 projects, calling everyone “resources” makes the math easier. 🧮
But here’s the secret: Math doesn’t design great products. People do. 👩🎨👨🎨
When you call a designer a “resource,” you aren’t just using a synonym. You are subtly telling them: “You are interchangeable. If you leave, I’ll just plug in another ‘unit’ of design power.” 🔌🧤
💡 A Hint for New Design Managers (How to lead with Empathy) ❤️
If you’ve recently traded your Figma cursor for a Manager’s dashboard, here’s how to keep your team’s heart beating:
- The Vocabulary Audit: 🛑 Stop saying “Allocation.” Start saying “Collaboration.” 🤝
- Use Names, Not Numbers: 📛 In a status meeting, say: “I’m excited to see what [Name] and the team tackle next.” It takes 0.5 seconds longer and buys you 100% more loyalty.
- Acknowledge the ‘Why’: 🌟 Resources are used up. Talent is invested in. Ask your team what they want to work on, not just where they can be “deployed.”
- Add a Little Wit: 😉 If you accidentally use the ‘R’ word, catch yourself! “Sorry, too much time spent looking at spreadsheets today. I meant to say our Design Wizards are ready for their next spell.” 🪄✨
The Big Debate: What’s your “Label”? 🤔
Language creates culture. If we treat people like hardware, we shouldn’t be surprised when they eventually “shut down.” 💻💤
I want to hear from you: Does the word “Resource” bother you, or is it just “standard corporate talk” that we should all just ignore? 🗣️
👇 Drop a comment below: Are you a “Resource” or a “Designer”?
#DesignLeadership #CorporateCulture #UXDesign #TeamManagement #HumanCenteredDesign #CreativeLeadership #SpreadsheetSam 🚀
