#Weeknotes 66 (15 Mar) — In-person workshop, reconnected with a friend, and my productivity complex
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Work wise:
We had a full day in-person working session this week with colleagues and clients. I really enjoyed it.
Since Covid, remote working became the norm for me. While I don’t miss the near 3 hours of daily commute, I do miss the many interactions with colleagues, especially those whom I don’t normally work with. I love that working remote made it possible to collaborate across geographies. At the same time, I can’t help but notice it made me lonelier at work. It feels more difficult to get to know colleagues who are not part of the same project team. This is also why I try to work from the office one day a week. I enjoy the impromptu conversations I’d have with colleagues working in the same space, or passing by in the kitchen or the hallways. Sometimes the conversations would be about work, and other times, we share what’s been going on in our personal lives. That’s how trust is built. There are many colleagues I haven’t the chance to work with, but somehow I get a sense that we would make a good team should we work together at some point. There’s no evidence, yet my confidence in their capabilities is somehow great. I can’t really explain it.
Having a day set aside for a dedicated working session in person is valuable in many ways. People are more likely to engage and less likely to be distracted. It’s easier to gauge people’s attitude and response to work. And it’s great for boosting team morale, increasing trust, and building stronger bond (in most cases). Having the day carved out also meant we are able to better immerse ourselves in the work. There’s no jumping from one meeting to another. Task switching is exhausting.
We managed to have a very productive day. It made the journey of those colleagues who had to travel long distances more worthwhile.
In terms of work this week, I’ve been focused on creating a research findings report following the analysis we did last week. I think I enjoy this part of the research even more so than running the user research and doing the analysis. That’s saying a lot. It feels odd to say that I enjoy creating a report, but I see it as an opportunity to tell a powerful story that can create impact. A good user research playback requires not only storytelling skills to capture attention, but also content, visual, and data design to engage the audience. Who knew my visual design background, all the coursework I’ve done on better storytelling, and interest in content design, would be used together like this? I looove it.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how to play back user research that sticks over the years. It can be so frustrating to pour my heart and soul into a report only to realise later that it didn’t instigate any change. I feel I have failed the participants who took part in the research. Especially around sensitive topics where people might reveal their most vulnerable sides to us researchers in hopes that something will change for the better. We have a heavy responsibility as researchers to ensure voices are heard and in a way that would make a change.
The more research work I do, the more I was able to experiment and get better at creating play back reports. Not because I personally think so. (Maybe.) But I notice in addition to receiving more positive feedback from the clients, there are also more instances when the work would reach the attention of senior stakeholders with the decision power to prioritise work.
Perhaps I’ll collate a list of things I’d incorporate in my playbacks and share it out with fellow user researchers.
Life wise:
An old friend who was like a mentor to me recently reached out via email. We lost touch for many years, and I was overjoyed upon hearing from him. I feel grateful to regain a connection. Sharing what we each have been up to over the years made me reflect on how I’ve grown and changed since. Hopefully wiser!
With the rise of instant messaging, I hardly ever write long messages to friends. It feels quite refreshing to write lengthy emails that took time and require some reflection. It feels similar to writing in a journal. I feel I’m talking to a friend but also myself at the same time. It’s nice.
Things I came across:
The topic of productivity came up a lot in the recent podcasts I listened to. (Thanks Cal Newport!) While I identify myself as a productivity nerd, I also have a love and hate relationship with it. I am attracted to productivity because I hate wasting time. But I am also human and want to enjoy life. And sometimes enjoyment can feel like not a good use of time. That is, time that can be used towards something productive.
Maybe I need to be better at defining what productivity mean to me. I think sometimes I confuse productivity with busyness. Separating the two isn’t easy. Between life admin, a toddler, family and social obligations, and work, it can be tricky to find time for myself. The guilt of not being productive in the little down time I have is real. In some ways I think I’m a productivity nerd because I’m lazy. I’m constantly looking for hacks so I can do more with less. I can’t be bothered doing repetitive tasks. I’d automatically think that there must be a shortcut or automation tool I can use. Lucky for me, there often is. My brain is always trying to find an easier way… to be more productive without doing all the work. It’s the dream right?
Until next week!
