Managing & Leading UX Researchers: Balancing Meetings, Practice, and Craftsmanship

Philip Burgess
Aug 17
3 min read

Updated: Oct 26

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader

Leading a team of UX researchers goes far beyond assigning studies and reviewing reports. It’s about cultivating practice, craftsmanship, and culture—while ensuring meetings are purposeful and productivity thrives. A well-managed UX research team doesn’t just produce insights; it becomes a trusted partner that drives product direction and user-centered innovation.

1. The Role of a UX Research Leader In Managing UX Researchers

Managing UX researchers requires wearing multiple hats:

Coach: Guiding researchers on their career paths and skill development.
Strategist: Ensuring research aligns with company OKRs and product goals.
Advocate: Evangelizing research across the organization to build influence.
Craft Steward: Protecting research quality and raising the bar of excellence.

Balancing these roles ensures both the people and the practice are growing.

2. Meetings That Matter

Meetings can either strengthen or drain a research team. The key is to curate intentional meetings:

Weekly Team Syncs: Focus on project updates, blockers, and shared learnings.
Craft Circles / Practice Reviews: Dedicated time to critique methodologies, reports, and approaches—sharpening skills through peer feedback.
One-on-Ones: Safe space for coaching, career growth, and personal well-being.
Cross-Functional Shareouts: Build visibility by presenting insights to design, product, and engineering partners.
Pro Tip: Keep status updates short. Save the depth for practice discussions or strategic reviews.

3. Building a Culture of Practice

A high-performing research team thrives on shared standards and methods.

Playbooks & Templates: Provide consistency in planning, reporting, and recruiting.
Method Showcases: Host monthly sessions where a researcher shares a new method, tool, or case study.
Knowledge Repositories: Tools like Dovetail, Notion, or Airtable help make research reusable and prevent knowledge silos.

This emphasis on practice ensures insights are not only rigorous but scalable.

4. Fostering Craftsmanship

Craftsmanship in research is about doing work that is methodologically sound, ethically responsible, and impactful. Leaders should encourage:

Rigor with Flexibility: Balance speed-to-insight with thoughtful methodology.
Triangulation: Encourage combining qualitative and quantitative methods for stronger outcomes.
Storytelling: Train researchers to communicate insights as compelling narratives, not just data points.

When craftsmanship is prioritized, stakeholders come to trust research not just as input but as a driver of decisions.

5. Supporting Career Growth

Strong research leaders champion the growth of their team by:

Creating clear career ladders (from junior to senior to lead researcher).
Offering opportunities for stretch projects that push skills forward.
Encouraging conference attendance, workshops, and certifications.
Providing ongoing mentorship in both soft skills (stakeholder management) and hard skills (advanced methods).

When researchers feel supported, retention and morale rise—leading to stronger outcomes for the business.

6. Best Practices for Leading UX Researchers

Balance meetings with heads-down time: Protect researchers’ focus time.
Measure impact, not just output: Track how insights influence decisions.
Encourage curiosity: Create space for side projects or exploratory studies.
Lead with empathy: Understand that research can be emotionally demanding—especially in sensitive domains.
Stay close to the craft: Even as a leader, occasionally run small studies to stay grounded.

Final Thoughts

Managing UX researchers means cultivating a team that feels valued, challenged, and impactful. When leaders balance meetings with meaningful practice, emphasize craftsmanship, and prioritize growth, they create a culture where research thrives.

In today’s competitive product landscape, a well-led UX research team isn’t just a support function—it’s a strategic advantage.

Philip Burgess | philipburgess.net | phil@philipburgess.net