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In this episode of UX Leadership By Design, host Mark Baldino speaks with Gerard Dolan about the challenges teams face in communication, problem identification, and leadership in dynamic work environments. Gerard discusses practical strategies for addressing issues like silos of information, aligning teams, and the importance of building relationships and fostering empathy within an organization. He emphasizes the value of identifying the right problems, facilitating open communication, and maintaining clarity in organizational roles. Gerard also touches on how team structures and leadership decisions can create bottlenecks and how to overcome them through transparency and collaboration.

Key Takeaways

• Breaking Silos to Enhance Communication: Teams often struggle with sharing information across departments. Breaking down "silos of excellence" fosters collaboration and ensures everyone is on the same page.
• Empathy and Understanding Pain Points: Spending time with colleagues and understanding their pain points can build bridges within organizations and improve team cohesion.
• Identifying and Addressing Real Problems: Taking the time to properly identify problems before jumping into solutions is critical for long-term success. Playing back the problem helps ensure everyone understands and is aligned.
• Prioritizing Open Feedback Loops: Regularly following up with team members on research findings or new information builds trust and ensures continuous improvement.
• Leadership Requires Clear Communication: Leaders must be proactive in communicating vision and strategy, ensuring that their teams are aligned and informed, particularly in large or complex organizations.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Gerard on LinkedIn 
• Cynefin Framework

• Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
• Fuzzy Math - B2B & Enterprise UX Design Consultancy