Experts in teamwork, David and Mary Sherwin, join the podcast for a fun conversation about better cross-team collaboration. They discuss the importance of active intention in team collaboration, building better teams with rituals and open communication, overcoming challenges in cross-team collaboration in UX research, and the benefits of collaboration on the organization as a whole. They also recommend the book 'Thanks for the Feedback' and mention their mailing list and upcoming book release.
Collaboration between different research teams is crucial to enhance the customer experience in retail companies.
Communicating time requirements and desired outcomes can facilitate collaboration and align priorities among teams.
Deep dives
Importance of Collaboration in Team Building
Collaboration between different research teams, such as marketing research, CX research, and UX research, is crucial to enhance the customer experience in retail companies. While teams may be busy with their own projects, it is important to highlight the shared customer and the potential benefits of collaboration. By sharing stories and evidence of the overlap between digital and physical touchpoints, teams can recognize the blurriness and mutual impact of their work. Communicating specific time requirements and desired outcomes can facilitate collaboration and align priorities among teams.
Tactics for Overcoming Resistance to Collaboration
When teams encounter resistance to collaboration or lack of time, specific tactics can help overcome the barriers. One approach is to quantify the time needed from each person involved, clarifying the time commitment required for collaboration. Another tactic is to highlight the benefits of collaboration, emphasizing how working together can improve outcomes for the organization and individual teams. Communicating clear expectations for meetings and specifying the desired outcomes can also foster effective collaboration and make the most of limited time.
Resource Recommendations for Building Collaborative Teams
For those interested in fostering collaboration and building stronger teams, the book 'Thanks for the Feedback' is recommended. This book offers techniques for receiving and interpreting feedback, enabling individuals to adjust their behavior and improve relationships with stakeholders. Additionally, the use of 'Team Words,' a tool created by the Sherwins, can facilitate conversation about shared behaviors and norms within a team, promoting understanding and collaboration among team members.
Connect with the Sherwins
To stay updated with the Sherwins' work, including their advice column, speaking engagements, and the release of their upcoming book 'Turning People into Teams,' you can join their mailing list at askthesherwins.com. The advice column is published monthly and provides practical insights and solutions to common challenges faced by teams. By joining the mailing list, you will also have access to exclusive content and special offers related to their book and events.
Episode #3: Collaborating across teams is hard, and it doesn't happen without intention, and some structure. But the benefits for your product, wow - it's like the difference between a beautiful chocolate soufflé and... just a mess on your kitchen counter. (Guess which one has a better UX.) David and Mary Sherwin are experts in teamwork (and design & innovation) and, as they put it, 'helping teams make better cake.' They joined me for a fun and informative conversation about how to make a better cake... er, better teams (sorry, we really like cake metaphors!).