Experienced research leader Brad Orego discusses the importance of research in decision-making and the challenges of leadership in the field. They touch on stretching outside traditional UX, educating others on research value, forming cross-functional insights groups, and empowering change through small steps in research processes.
Building relationships with other teams leads to cross-functional collaborations and alliances.
Get buy-in from leadership by demonstrating value and speaking their language.
Research extends beyond UX to impact sales, marketing, and customer success.
Deep dives
Taking Small Steps to Create Cross-Functional Collaborations
Building relationships and fostering connections with other teams can lead to cross-functional collaborations and alliances. Starting with small wins, such as adding a few questions to an interview script or working on a specific project with another team, can pave the way for broader partnerships.
Influencing Leadership by Understanding Their Priorities
Getting buy-in from leadership involves understanding what they care about and finding ways to speak their language. By providing value to other functions in the organization and demonstrating the collective impact of collaboration, research leaders can influence leadership to see the benefits of cross-functional working groups.
The Value of Research in Making Better Decisions
Research goes beyond traditional UX focus and can contribute to areas like sales, marketing campaigns, and customer success. By aligning research efforts with the decision-making processes of different functions, researchers can demonstrate the broader impact of their work in driving business outcomes.
Starting Small and Building Relationships to Drive Change
Taking incremental steps, like adding questions to interview scripts or collaborating on small projects, can lead to significant changes over time. By initiating conversations, forming alliances, and delivering value to various teams, research leaders can slowly build momentum towards integrating research across functions.
Embracing Incremental Progress and Flexibility in Strategy
Rather than seeking a grand master plan, success can be achieved through incremental progress and adaptability. By starting in a general direction, being open to learning and adjusting along the way, and focusing on small wins, individuals at any level within an organization can drive impactful changes over time.
In this conversation, Roy Opata Olende and Brad Orego discuss the role of research within companies and the need to stretch outside of traditional UX/Design domains. They highlight the importance of research in making better decisions and saving time, and the need for research leaders to communicate the value of research and educate others about its capabilities. Brad also addresses the challenges of leadership in the research field and the need for better training and preparation.
Lastly, Brad shares the experience of forming a cross-functional insights group and the benefits of working with different teams and disciplines. The key takeaway is that research leaders should start small and take incremental steps to build relationships, demonstrate value, and drive change within their organizations.