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Summary
In her talk, Kim Annex shares her experiences leading Zendesk's product design organization, a team spread across multiple countries and time zones. She reflects on the evolution of remote work technology and how it has transformed collaboration in distributed teams. Kim emphasizes the importance of building trust, fostering strong partnerships, and encouraging open communication among team members. She provides practical tips for managing global teams, including maintaining asynchronous communication, respecting cultural differences, and investing in design quality through collaboration and specialized roles. She also highlights the significance of personal connections, suggesting that informal interactions, such as team off-sites and shared interests on social media, contribute positively to team dynamics. Kim's framework advocates for a holistic approach to design that embraces both individual projects and the overall product experience, encouraging creativity and innovation even in the face of challenges.
Key Insights
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Trust and strong partnerships are the foundation of successful distributed teams.
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Effective communication is critical; leveraging digital tools helps mitigate misunderstandings.
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The evolution of technology has enabled better collaboration in global teams.
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Fostering a culture of humility and confidence promotes open dialogue and innovation.
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Regular co-located workshops and social interactions build stronger team bonds.
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Asynchronous communication is essential for working across multiple time zones.
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Celebrating cultural differences enhances empathy and collaboration among team members.
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Investing in specialists (e.g., user research, design systems) is crucial for maintaining design quality across products.
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Encouraging team members to take risks and challenge the status quo drives creativity.
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A shared vision and values help align cross-functional teams towards common goals.
Notable Quotes
"Nothing can get done without fostering and building trust."
"Design is really a team sport."
"We should be designing for experiences first, not just products."
"Breaking bread together makes a difference."
"Instagram fulfills a role in maintaining personal connections."
"It's essential to celebrate cultural differences and empathize with one another."
"We set expectations and figure out who's responsible and who's contributing."
"Asynchronous behavior is really important to just embrace it."
"Everyone should describe their work preferences and their hours and expectations."
"You're not going to get an answer quickly; things take longer."
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