¿Qué estrategias de design thinking puedes utilizar para mejorar la comunicación en tu equipo?

Improving communication within a Team is a continuous exercise, considering design thinking as an improvement method is a good approach in many ways, even when communication is not really a problem to solve. I've used this approach several times, as a series of small "mini" workshops, some formal around the table, and many others less formal and even casual "coffee" sessions...that's the best "E" method - everyone gets to know the other'(s), and build rapport, understanding, and true collaboration.

To enhance communication in your team, consider implementing design thinking strategies like empathy mapping to understand team members' perspectives, brainstorming for innovative ideas, and prototyping solutions collaboratively. This approach fosters a user-centric mindset and encourages open dialogue among team members.

Promote a culture of open communication: Encourage open dialogue, respectful feedback, and active listening within your team. Lead by example: As a leader, model the communication behaviours you want to see in your team. Utilise feedback loops: Encourage ongoing feedback exchange between team members to identify and address communication challenges promptly. Celebrate success: Recognize and celebrate your team's communication achievements to reinforce positive behaviours.

Being compassionate always helps in creating the strong team bond and clear communication. With these two attributes empathy goes hand in hand. And to attain this the leader really needs to be a great listener and least judgmental.

Enabling team members and employees to enroll on Educational Platforms and learn how to master Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and other essential SOFT Skills such as Conflict Management, Time Management transforms the workplace into a more collaborative and inclusive environment.

My favorite starter is “What are we solving for?”. Oftentimes, the sense of false urgency prompts a quick reaction lacking context with intended outcomes. This results in chaos and confusion for employees.

To take it one step further beyond just problem solving, you can begin to look at the potential of the whole system. This is regenerative development. Because once we label something as a problem, we immediately start looking for solutions rather than understanding the context of the complex interactions of a living system.

Algo que he visto a lo largo de mi nada corta trayectoria laboral, es que los equipos que fracasan son aquellos que van en direcciones distintas. En la medida que yo me pongo en los zapatos del otro, entiendo sus necesidades y frustraciones, podré apoyar y dar soluciones, sí habrá casos donde esa confianza y compromiso no sea recíproco, pero entonces habrá que tranquilizar a la consciencia con saber, que se hizo lo correcto.

Having a shared understanding of the problem is important for the team. While all members are not likely to have that clarity from the start; decision makers should have a common understanding. Through these clear goals can be established. However, setting a goal in itself is just like knowing where to go. But it doesn't inform me on how to go there. Strategy thus is as important as the policy. Options available need to be evaluated to choose the best plausible path. Milestones and measure of effectiveness are useful tools for tracking that progress.

Também entendo que unificar a energia da equipe para a solução é uma forma de termos uma cultura que dissemina ideias criativas, com uma visão ampla e perspectivas diferentes. Claro que sempre conduzida e direcionada para o propósito do que precisa ser entregue.

Apply the brain writing technique. Everybody writes down their solution individually and then they share out loud their proposal. In this way we make sure non of the team members is dominating the conversation.

Never forget to play group games, one of the best methods of group ideation is to engage team members and improve communication within the team by using collaborative games like Prone the Product, Spider Web, Me and My Shadow, Speedboat, and Give them a Hot Tube.

Ideating and prototyping together also has the benefit of getting creative together. Even if you’re ‘wrong’ you still learn and if learning is fun or even hard - as long as you keep a positive growth mindset - you still bond as a team. Plus it makes it more engaging and fun. Balancing the divergent creativity with the convergent synchronizing / leveling allows for multiple mental models to be at play.

Before diving into solutions, establish a clear understanding of the problem and goals using design thinking methods like reframing, brainstorming, and mapping. This fosters a shared vision, purpose, and criteria for evaluating solutions. Design thinking's benefit lies in divergent and convergent thinking—exploring possibilities and narrowing down options. Employ ideation and prototyping techniques such as sketching and role-playing, fostering collaboration and utilizing diverse team skills and creativity. Ensure a safe environment for idea sharing, particularly in online settings, through practices like huddles, allowing for valuable feedback and input from each team member.

To get the best out of your ideation you need to raise the energy levels in the room. The easiest way to do this is to get people talking about things they like. Focus on the positive and find emotional connections and then the work magically unfolds itself.

Feedback is integral to design thinking, aiding learning from users, teams, and prototypes. Despite its importance, giving and receiving feedback can be challenging. Employ design thinking strategies like sandwiching, "I" statements, and seeking permission to ensure effective communication of feedback. This approach minimizes emotional triggers, defensiveness, or resistance, fostering a culture of learning and a growth mindset within your team. Utilizing a creative survey can provide a structured and engaging way for team members to share their thoughts in writing, contributing to a more constructive feedback process.

I often use things like pros and cons to help analyze why a specific path or strategy is or is not aligned with our goals. That way people understand the positive contributions of their work and are more open to a subtle redirect to refocus the energy for it the highest solution.

Design Thinking methodology offers a unique opportunity to incorporate feedback exercises that feel less critical and more constructive. By establishing a clear framework beforehand, it becomes easier for people to provide feedback since it removes any communication barriers and allows them to convey their key messages effectively. Creating a structured approach upfront can significantly expedite the feedback process and improve the overall outcome. The better the design of the approach, the better the results will be.

The key to effective communication in terms of feedback is not focusing on what is wrong with a certain opinion. But to add value to the idea. Also it is essential to communicate in a manner that is direct, to the point and presents a wholesome evaluation. Pros and cons are definitely a good way of deliberating on your own and others input.

Effective feedback is essential for improving communication within a team. When offering feedback, focus on being specific, constructive, and respectful. Ensure that feedback is directed towards the ideas and actions, not the individuals involved. Additionally, encourage a feedback loop within the team, where team members feel comfortable giving and receiving feedback from each other. This will promote open communication and continuous improvement.

Be in touch with the team, foster them to openly share ideas and how they solved challenges. This will open up avenues and encourage continuous improvement.

Continuous improvement works best with good chunks of time between the iterations to be able to test the efficacy. It's also important to establish a clear baseline with simple metrics before you start, so that you are able to measure project progress against the same metrics as the seasons progress.

Most of the projects our creative team worked on went through more than five versions, and multiple creatives provided their options of design, not even mentioning options of copy that can be dozens at a time. It is crucial to appreciate the process of creation and foster that attitude, especially with junior team members. Based on my experience they are particularly vulnerable and defensive to feedback, eager to deliver the final result. But true creativity blooms iteratively through practice. One way to encourage an iterative improvement culture is to initiate more collaborative projects.

Continuous iteration and improvement are essential in design thinking. Gather feedback from various sources, analyze it, and use it to refine solutions. Embrace agile methodologies, user testing, and data analytics. Encourage cross-functional collaboration, foster a culture of continuous learning, and view failures as learning opportunities. Implement agile feedback loops, design sprints, and maintain open communication channels. Document insights, share knowledge, and regularly review and reflect on project progress. This dynamic and collaborative approach ensures ongoing adaptation to challenges and evolving user needs.

Embracing a culture of continuous improvement within the team should become a habit. Implementing ideas and solutions may require taking the time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. During team meetings, it's helpful to encourage open discussions about the team's successes and failures. Using these insights to iterate and enhance your overall communication processes can lead to a learning and growth mindset within the team. This fosters transparent and adaptive communication, ultimately helping the team achieve higher goals and improving individual morale while acknowledging the team's efforts at the highest level.

Set up a safe space for the team to speak up. This is the greatest empowerment you can ever do to ensure loyalty, productivity and team cohesion.

A menudo, especialmente con un equipo pequeño, un cambio de ubicación y de entorno promueve una discusión más relajada y fructífera, dando lugar a ideas más creativas. Una charla informal durante el almuerzo o durante una pausa para café puede ser muy efectiva.

To improve communication within your team, it is essential to emphasize the importance of consistently evaluating and adapting communication strategies based on the team's dynamics and feedback. Additionally, actively listening to the team's needs and concerns is essential for creating an environment of open dialogue and trust. By prioritizing continuous improvement and considering the team's input, you can foster a culture of effective communication that supports collaboration and success.

Summarise every meetings decisions: many times people feel , even after a productive meeting, that they understood whats been decided, when actually, each one understood differently the decisions, the design etc. So even if participants will roll their eyes, dont wait for the meeting summary in the mail. Go over each decision with everyone: 1. It will help find discrepancies in participan's understanding of decisions. 2. It will help find loose ends in the descisions and tie them up. 3. It will help prevent more meetings "just to clear up things" 4. It will make sure everyone is actually on the same page. Spending these few more minutes will save time, confusion, efforts and allow focus on the work itself between meetings

We always have to remember to be open-minded, collaborative, and willing to experiment and iterate to achieve the best results.