Weeknotes 1 May, 2026

Q4 was a mix of stepping up, zooming out, and learning where not to step in.

A lot of my “wins” came from bringing structure to ambiguity. I took loosely defined or under-supported areas – like defining what support the Design team actually needed in Q4. I also used early discovery designs to create clearer documentation on content standards. This included training AI to follow these to create “good enough” copy. That often meant creating frameworks, documentation, and recordings so the work can scale.

I also spent time operating outside my immediate scope. Covering 1:1s for another Design Manager and supporting across teams gave me a better view of how things connect. And also where clarity or alignment was missing. In most cases, my role became less about delivering and more about helping others move forward with confidence.

Alongside that, I focused on improving how we work day to day. Things like better planning. Clearer sprint goals. More effective async communication made a noticeable difference to team momentum. Small changes here added up.

Where things got more interesting was in the opportunities I leaned into.

I started being more intentional about stepping back. Instead of jumping in to solve problems, I’ve been asking more questions and letting others own the outcome. It’s not always comfortable – and sometimes slower – but it’s already creating more space for others to grow.

I also paid more attention to where my time and energy go. Time-boxing. Prioritising, and accepting that I can’t support everything at once. This has helped me focus on the areas where I can have the most impact.

Another area has been reflecting more consistently. Journalling, gathering feedback, and reviewing what’s working (and what isn’t) has helped me course-correct more quickly.

I’ve also been thinking about how I show up more publicly. In sharing ideas, writing, and contributing beyond immediate team work. This is something I want to build on.

I’m still working on knowing when to step in versus when to hold back. I care about momentum and quality, which can pull me toward being the safety net.

Overall, this quarter felt like a shift from doing the work to shaping how the work happens. From being involved in everything to being deliberate about where I add value.

Next up: continuing to step back, coaching more, and focusing on fewer things with greater impact.