|
Getting people to collaborate creatively in meetings is easier and more effective when it is done in a pleasurable, fun and trusting environment. I know from experience how hard this can be. So here are a few tips for leading a creative, collaborative meeting... The big takeaways:
2 Comments
 When asked authentically, this three-syllable question creates connectedness, trust and understanding with anyone, even a person you have just met. This matters because empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is an essential ingredient in the process of designing solutions for people. How can we understand how others are feeling unless we ask? Asking the question unlocks the potential to observe problems that would otherwise go unobserved. This is a gold mine of understanding for solutions designers. "How's Your Day?"So, I routinely ask this question of people because:
So often, our daily existence and interactions are framed by disconnectedness and distrust. Asking this question to someone else is so counter-cultural. Consequently, it produces a measurable shift in the environment and it creates a sense of trust and connectedness. One of my favorite contexts to ask the question is while getting things done on the phone, standing in line or chatting online.
Try It and SeeUnderstanding how people in the world are feeling is easy. Just ask them. They'll tell you. Listen to them and learn what problems they are experiencing. It will inform your design decisions.
When the woman you are talking with senses that you care enough about her to ask how her day is going, it breathes fresh life into the conversation, even if she is having a bad day. Somehow when you care enough to ask, it reaffirms her humanity and causes her to reflect on how she's feeling. If we, as solutions designers, practice this kind of authentic caring, listening and learning on an ongoing basis, we tap into a limitless supply of priceless insight for free by simply exercising a common courtesy towards another person. Your empathy for people and willingness to be vulnerable enough to go there immensely affect your solution design. - Chuck Subscribe to my free blog updates that contain not only my ideas on the topic, but the insight of others who actively work and thrive wholeheartedly in the realms of collaborative creativity. I hope you'll get a lot of benefit from it. |
Learn the Art of
Successful Agile Design
About Chuck Boudreau(boo'-dro) - I help people design solutions collaboratively using agile design methods. I have 30+ years of experience in designing software solutions and business processes, leading cross-functional process improvement teams as a business analyst, and helping product managers define and position products using Pragmatic Marketing. I am passionate about user experience design, dog training, beating drums in musical ensembles and collaboratively creating solutions with people. 
Archives
April 2018
Categories
All
|
||||||
RSS Feed