Alignment and Research Through Workshops
Prioritization needs everyone on the same page
Gaining buy-in via storytelling and hands on participation allows for alignment projects and strategy.
User Focused Workshops
User Empathy is important for all departments, not just UX teams. I have partnered with other departments within the company to facilitate creation of user personas and journeys that affect that department. Those team members are now equipped to lead all of their future choices and endeavors with user empathy at front of mind.
Research Workshops
I have facilitated and co-facilitated many workshops designed to begin execution of a research plan. By bringing together key users from throughout the company we are able to gain buy-in and clarity from many members early: saving time down the road and creating a unified vision.
Future State Workshops
Some of my most favorite workshops to host are those in which we are looking to the future. Working with key stakeholders from within and outside the company to create a solid forecast for the future is so exciting. Nothing makes me smile more than hearing groups launching ideas back and forth to create a roadmap that is verbose, thorough, and solves the user problems.
Methods and Philosophy
Clear plan and objective
Iterative meetings with key stakeholders
Reviewing previous known research
Creating primary and secondary research
Research plan signed and agreed to by all key parties
Specific invite list
Leverage suggestions from stakeholders
utilize a workshop pre-screener (typically through Qualtrics) to understand use cases of potential participants
For those who will need to be flown in, time is of the essence so I like to send out these prescreeners at least 6 weeks in advance
Carefully curated agenda
The majority of the work for a workshop is held in this step
Each activity needs to point to the objective while still being compelling and engaging
Many run throughs will be held
Frequent demo of the agenda to business owner and UX team for feedback
Key teammates available for co-facilitation and live documentation
I have found having a lead facilitator with one co-facilitator works best
Having other teammates available for at-the-moment digitization of stickies and insights and photographing progress is key to a smooth path for step 9 (from a mentorship and team growth perspective, I like the team member in charge of digitization to be someone who has an interest in gaining experience in workshops. It is a great place for them to dip their toes into the water)
Pre-meeting with participants
Through trial and error I have found that a 30-60 minutes pre-meeting is much more effective than sending out pre-reads
Time can be used to review current state process maps and address questions around daily logistics, dress code, and any questions from those flying in
Expertly executed workshop
The best laid plans of mice and men sometimes fail, so having a plan B and a plan C through Z is key
I am an expert at pivoting on a dime when something unexpected comes up. Examples that we've had to work through include new insights or experiences that didn't come up during pre-research, tech issues, key stakeholders unable to come last minutes, fire alarms, and intruder alert drills.
Prompt follow up for feedback
I have a post workshop survey completed and approved weeks before the workshop even begins
I work with our CX team to have a thank you email ready for concurrent distribution through Qualtrics along with the survey
Each workshop I have facilitated has had "Satisfied" or "Extremely Satisfied" for overall experience of the workshops
Roadmap for closing the loop and keeping participants in the know
Closing the loop allows our stakeholders and participants to stay bought-in and guides them to become our biggest advocates for the projects. From follow up emails to phone calls to reaching out to them first to test prototypes, I am adept at keeping the vision strong
Synthesis and Analysis of findings
The research plan at the outset of the workshop gives me clear guidelines as to what the expected artifacts are from the workshop and allow for a smooth transition from post-workshop high to work mode.
Retro
No workshop is perfect. There is always something to learn. Holding a retrospective with UX team members allows us to learn from what went well and from unexpected hiccups.
De-Centered Workshop
My years in the classroom taught me a lot that I bring to workshops. De-centering the classroom is a newer pedagogical idea in which the teacher functions as a guide rather than lecturer. This allows the participants to have the most active voices. Participants are guided through conversations and activities by me. They spend more time listening to each other than to me.
LEGO Serious Play Method
A method leveraged to create alignment for complex problems. Created at LEGO back in the early oughts. It is a great tool in my facilitator tool belt. This tool allows all voices to be heard and is especially effective with introverted participants.
Personality
I'm typically not one to toot my own horn, however, this is my portfolio so here I go. I am a great speaker, quick on my feet and engaging. I have honed my ability to facilitate over many years, beginning public speaking engagements and competitions all the way back in elementary school. I am not easily rattled during workshops by strong minded stakeholders or participants either, years of teaching middle school gives me thick skin and the patience of a saint.