Summary
Trying to plan and collaborate across different teams whilst creating a cohesive culture can sometimes feel like a pipe dream. This is especially true as we start to work with more distributed teams and as we add more and more specialised functions to the mix, such as Design, Research, Content Strategy, Product Management, Engineering, Data Science…oh my! There are also a few common myths which are just not true in today’s modern team environment. Come along for a few laughs as we explore a few popular myths, debunk them and arm you with a few practical tips and ideas to help you build world-class products.
Key Insights
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Rigid roles can lead to blame games and dysfunction.
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Successful teamwork requires adaptability and understanding of team dynamics.
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Encourage co-creation and joint accountability among team members.
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Building trust takes intentional effort; it does not happen by chance.
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Understanding how a project has evolved is as important as focusing on the current goals.
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Teams should prioritize communication and social interactions to build relationships.
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Effective processes should support human collaboration, not replace it.
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Diverse perspectives can lead to better outcomes and prevent narrow thinking.
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Meetings at the start of a project help build trust; they can reduce as trust grows.
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Feedback on design should be encouraged from all team members to foster creativity and empathy.
Notable Quotes
"Solid roles and responsibilities won't magically solve everything."
"Effective teamwork is about having that clear purpose for the team."
"Teams constantly bicker over turf, blaming the various disciplines for their inability to meet deadlines."
"Who is not in the room is just as important as who is."
"Building great products is a team sport; you need to support one another."
"Trust takes effort, invest in it and be a human with your colleagues."
"A shared understanding of how you got here creates a sense of purpose."
"Don't blindly follow process expecting it to get you the results you want."
"Great process can lead to terrible results."
"Process is neither necessary nor sufficient for great design."
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