Summary
It’s hard to collaborate with clients when some stakeholders continue to move the goalpost on deliverables, consistently contradict their own decisions, and ignore your advice as a consultant. This brand of toxic behavior can have adverse effects on your quality of work, cause strain on professional relationships, and ultimately result in a weaker product or service for your users. Senior Experience Designer Darian Davis will share what he’s learned navigating a previous toxic work relationship, and along the way, uncover the tools to help you navigate, alleviate, and improve toxic work relationships of your own.
Key Insights
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Establishing boundaries can shift dynamics in toxic work relationships.
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Asking questions and seeking to understand helps foster empathy.
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Appealing to stakeholders' best interests can build rapport and trust.
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Creating documentation and a project roadmap aids clarity and accountability.
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Regularly reviewing decisions can reduce ambiguity and confusion in teams.
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Most people experience challenges with difficult colleagues, highlighting workplace commonality.
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Recognizing one's own role in creating toxic environments is crucial for personal growth.
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Seeking feedback and engaging in regular self-reflection can prevent toxic behaviors.
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Collaboration requires effort from all team members to create a healthy work culture.
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Empathy and respect are foundational to overcoming interpersonal challenges.
Notable Quotes
"It's important to lean in as we spend our time together, just like Storytime around a campfire."
"When people label an individual as difficult, it's hard not to treat them as a problem."
"My initial reaction was, 'Why me?'"
"I felt on edge and physically depleted after our interactions."
"I learned to observe and ask questions to show empathy."
"If you're generating buy-in for a design or concept, don’t forget what it will mean for your difficult stakeholders."
"I had a model of my work expectations, which set a standard for others."
"I created a source of truth to document our journey and decisions."
"We all are capable of creating and perpetuating toxic work relationships."
"Empathy and respect among team members are key to curbing divisive habits."
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