How to Use Self-Directed Learning to Ensure Your Research Insights are Heard and Acted Upon
Summary
In our remote world, we as researchers need new ways to help our stakeholders cut through the noise to engage and digest our insights more meaningfully through thoughtful and intentional self-directed learning techniques. In this short session, we will discuss 4 key self-directed learning techniques to help you increase engagement around your insights during our debriefing sessions with your stakeholders.
Key Insights
-
•
Self-directed learning can empower stakeholders to engage with research insights on their own terms, increasing uptake and action.
-
•
Designing the context of insight sharing intentionally—considering group size, goals, and stakeholder needs—improves clarity and impact.
-
•
Emotional literacy, or checking in on participants’ feelings before sharing insights, helps prime stakeholders for better receptiveness.
-
•
Asynchronous collaboration within live sessions encourages quieter voices to be heard and builds rich discussions around insights.
-
•
Using digital tools that allow commenting directly on research reports democratizes feedback and documents conversations in real time.
-
•
Early engagement of stakeholders in framing research questions fosters buy-in and makes the research more relevant to their concerns.
-
•
Not everyone needs to read or engage with all research content; focusing on the most influential stakeholders optimizes effort and impact.
-
•
Combining synchronous and asynchronous modes in insight sharing sessions can manage Zoom fatigue and diversify participation.
-
•
Explicitly naming stakeholders' questions in research reports increases their sense of being seen and encourages participation.
-
•
Insight sharing should shift from just delivering information to designing a learning experience tailored to stakeholders’ strengths and interests.
Notable Quotes
"Change is the only constant, so designing insight sharing with self-directed learning is critical."
"Caring for people emotionally during insight sessions directly impacts their productivity and willingness to engage."
"Sometimes the loudest voices dominate, but asynchronous collaboration helps give quieter voices a chance to speak."
"I literally ask, how are you feeling right now? It’s about connecting on a human level before diving into data."
"Before sharing insights, I try to prime the room by acknowledging feelings and starting fresh."
"Sharing insights is like creating a learning space where stakeholders can use the information in their own way."
"Sending reports early and inviting comments turns the insight session into more of a discussion than a presentation."
"Everyone wants to see themselves reflected in the research questions and findings."
"Focus your research report on the three most influential stakeholders, not everyone."
"Combining synchronous and asynchronous communication within one session gets us from awareness to action."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Complexity is not a barrier to accessibility; even complicated games like The Last of Us are accessible."
Samuel ProulxInvisible barriers: Why accessible service design can’t be an afterthought
December 3, 2024
"I train people on the difference between data and information and on asking the right questions."
Sarah CoyleDesign and Analytics with Sarah Coyle
July 30, 2020
"We’re building and securing better frameworks and futures rather than tangible, countable, easy-to-quantify widgets."
Frances YllanaTheme 2 Intro
September 24, 2024
"Women are more likely to die in car crashes because crash test dummies are not designed with women in mind."
Dr. Jamika D. Burge Mansi GuptaAdvancing the Inclusion of Womxn in Research Practices
September 15, 2022
"Elevation of design leadership to no more than two levels below the CEO signals that design is important company-wide."
Peter MerholzDesign at Scale is People!
June 11, 2021
"Music is personal but also cultural and communal, which creates complexity for personalization."
Sohit KarolDesigning Delightful Listening Experiences: Mixed Methods Research in the Age of Machine Learning
March 31, 2020
"One of my friends told me I was considerably underpaid and I’d never asked for anything, which changed my awareness of self-respect."
Jaskiran KangWhy Community is Key to Professionalizing Design
October 28, 2022
"Optimizing something for ease of use does not mean it’s best for humanity — infinite scroll is a cautionary example."
Sheryl CababaExpanding your Design Lens with Systems Thinking
March 28, 2023
"We try to find ways to have fun together remotely — like virtual holiday parties or online games."
Jilanna WilsonDistributed DesignOps Management
February 26, 2019
