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
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75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional mainly due to persisting silos despite team integration efforts.
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Cross-functional dysfunction often stems from competing priorities, miscommunication, and lack of shared goals.
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A relationship cycle includes connection, disconnection, and repair; skipping repair can end relationships.
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Connection means feeling seen, heard, and valued, which is essential for true collaboration.
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Most work relationships are transactional, lacking connection, leading to conflict and lower productivity.
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Conflict emerges from disconnection, and defensive reactions escalate it; repair attempts can break this cycle.
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Repair is any action that prevents negativity from escalating, not necessarily fixing something broken.
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Using personality tools like the Enneagram can quickly build connection and understanding cross-functionally.
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Designed alliances that explicitly state expectations and communication norms help prevent dysfunction.
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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."
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