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NEWS STORY

Great leadership starts with knowing yourself!

Do you understand the impact that you are having on your team and your organisation? Well, then it's time! Reflecting on your strengths, weaknesses, and leadership style is crucial for leading your team or organisation. Recognizing how your actions, decisions, and communication affect those around you can help you foster a positive and productive work environment.



Here are 5 Tips for Leadership in Service Design:

 

  1. START WITH YOURSELF Know your strengths and weaknesses

  2. ENSURE clarity about vision, mission, and expectations

  3. BE HUMBLE “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real” Thomas Merton

  4. EMBRACE a failure culture and admit when you don’t know

  5. ENCOURAGE honest feedback and regular time for joint reflection



American author and motivational speaker, John C. Maxwell:

"You must first lead yourself before you can lead others." 



Want to learn how?

 

Join us on July 4 for the next edition of the Service Design Leadership Lab at the SDN Academy!


This two-month learning journey is designed to support current or prospective leaders in managing their broad range of daily tasks. The course aims to enhance your leadership skills holistically, addressing these three dimensions: leading yourself, leading your team, and leading the organisation.

 

What are the takeaways from this training?​

  • Develop your own leadership role and attitude by applying a set of methods, tools, and mental maps

  • Use a "Transformation Architect Tool Box“ for leaders and know about their impact

  • Reflect on your own behaviour through self-assessments and reflecting on real situations

  • Learn about different theories on how to empower and motivate your team

  • Become the leader that people would love to follow and much more!





 


Reading recommendations for Service Design Leadership:



Free for SDN Member

The past years have seen plenty of discussion around the terms ‘service design thinking’ and ‘service design doing’. In this issue, we feel it’s time to get a better understanding of ‘service design leading’. After all, that is how much of the thinking and doing gets done.

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SELECTED UPCOMING COURSES

The Design of Change: Essentials for Service Designers

May 22 & June 5, 2025

SDNA online live course

Course language:

English

English

Every service designer faces the same challenge: dreaming up great concepts is one thing, making them work in the real world is another. Why do even the best user journeys and service concepts sometimes falter? What holds your team back from turning ideas into meaningful impact? This course bridges that gap.​

Service Design Leadership Lab

Apr 30 - Jul 2, 2025

SDNA online live course

Course language:

English

English

Nowadays, leading (service design) teams is a very responsible and demanding task in both traditional and agile organisations. This 4-module learning journey is designed to support current or prospective leaders in managing their broad range of daily tasks.

Branding for Service Design with AI Tools

on-demand course

SDNA on-demand curse

Course language:

English

English

Why is branding important for service design? Join Fiona Myles and Javier Garcia in this on-demand course covering the key business considerations, principles and tools of branding for service design supported by AI tools.

Service Design
Masterclasses Series

Mar 14 - May 20, 2025

SDNA online live course

Course language:

English

English

An 8-week, 8-module, online accreditation course relevant for established service designers looking to widen their horizons, advance their careers and increase their impact.

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