Summary
As designers, we all know that the majority of our time is spent on people, not on designing. Nearly every designer has experienced some kind of “people problem” at work - such as a cross-functional partner that won’t collaborate. In this talk, Alla will offer an introduction to relationships - what they are, how they work, and how designers can create relationship interfaces so they can be 10 times more effective at work.
Key Insights
-
•
75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional mainly due to persisting silos despite team integration efforts.
-
•
Cross-functional dysfunction often stems from competing priorities, miscommunication, and lack of shared goals.
-
•
A relationship cycle includes connection, disconnection, and repair; skipping repair can end relationships.
-
•
Connection means feeling seen, heard, and valued, which is essential for true collaboration.
-
•
Most work relationships are transactional, lacking connection, leading to conflict and lower productivity.
-
•
Conflict emerges from disconnection, and defensive reactions escalate it; repair attempts can break this cycle.
-
•
Repair is any action that prevents negativity from escalating, not necessarily fixing something broken.
-
•
Using personality tools like the Enneagram can quickly build connection and understanding cross-functionally.
-
•
Designed alliances that explicitly state expectations and communication norms help prevent dysfunction.
-
•
Leadership must protect time for relational work because connected relationships drive productivity and reduce burnout.
Notable Quotes
"75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional because silos tend to perpetuate themselves."
"A relationship is similar to breathing—it has a form and goes through connection, disconnection, and repair."
"Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued."
"Most of our work relationships are transactional; we pass things over the wall without really seeing each other."
"Disconnection is the breeding ground for conflict."
"Work gets done through our relationships, and this becomes more true as you advance in your career."
"A repair attempt is any action that prevents negativity from spiraling out of control."
"The quickest way to create connection I found is through the Enneagram personality assessment."
"Designed alliances make explicit the implicit ways relationships work and feel to produce healthy partnerships."
"You don’t have time not to connect; lack of connection actually makes work take longer."
Dig deeper—ask the Rosenbot:
More Videos
"You don’t need to take notes — MJ Broadbent's sketchnotes capture everything beautifully."
Bria Alexander Louis RosenfeldWelcome
September 8, 2022
"Pharmaceutical research is all about failing ideas as quickly and cheaply as possible."
Mike OrenWhy Pharmaceutical's Research Model Should Replace Design Thinking
March 28, 2023
"Designers are becoming managers, ethicists, and advocates as the complexity of AI products grows."
Jodi ForlizziDesign and AI innovation
June 5, 2024
"Sponsor sessions do not overlap at all with the main programming. It’s fully optional but high quality, not sales pitches."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
October 3, 2023
"Marketing is psychology; to sell, you need to know how people think and feel."
Michael WeirMixed Methods and Behavioural Science (Videoconference)
May 26, 2023
"Marketing what UX research does creates advocates and makes the company smarter by customer insights."
Molly FargotsteinMultipurpose Communication & UX Research Marketing (Videoconference)
September 12, 2019
"In Latin populations, there’s a cultural ethos named sympathy — the duty and desire to please and be legal."
Verónica Urzúa Jorge MontielThe B-side of the Research Impact
March 12, 2021
"You can’t collaborate without or communicate upfront shared context."
Husani OakleyTheme Two Intro
June 6, 2023
"The AB Builder is a collaborative workspace accessible by both designers and developers."
George Abraham Stefan IvanovDesign Systems To-Go: Reimagining Developer Handoff, and Introducing App Builder (Part 2)
October 1, 2021
