299: How to get better at collaborating with cross-functional partners

299: How to get better at collaborating with cross-functional partners

Author: Charli Prangley, Femke Van Schoonhoven October 28, 2024 Duration: 30:13
Design Life
BusinessArtsDesignEntrepreneurshipTechnology

This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!

Charli and Femke explore the challenges and best practices in cross-functional collaboration, including navigating role overlaps, planning for future initiatives, understanding how other teams work, leading effective meetings, and how cross-functional feedback fits into performance reviews.

Timestamps:

0:33 Episode introduction

1:20 Playbook sponsorship

3:36 Cross-functional collaboration: who are your daily collaborators, and what roles do they play in your projects?

5:37 Navigating overlapping responsibilities: how to understand roles across disciplines

7:34 Charlie’s planning for 2025

13:38 Successful cross-functional partnerships: key elements for building strong relationships

17:06 Building context on other teams: how to start understanding their roles and processes

20:33 Approaching cross-functional meetings

24:22 The role of cross-functional feedback in performance reviews: is it valued differently than feedback from your own discipline?

27:24 Homework for listeners

28:12 Special live event announcement

Links:

Big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Playbook! Be sure to check them out and see how they can elevate your workflow

Sign up for Charli and Femke's live event on November 1st at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm CET 

Femke’s course “Product strategy for designers”

Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm


Hosted by designers Charli Prangley and Femke Van Schoonhoven, Design Life feels like eavesdropping on a candid conversation between two friends who genuinely understand the hustle. This podcast digs into the reality of a creative career, moving beyond portfolio tips to discuss the actual challenges of making a living from your ideas. Each episode stems from their own experiences as serial side-project addicts, covering everything from navigating client negotiations and pricing your work to pushing through creative blocks and finding time for personal work. You’ll hear them dissect the intersection of design, business, and technology with a relatable, grounded perspective. The discussion they foster is particularly valuable for young creatives seeking honest advice and a sense of community, all delivered through the lens of two practitioners in the field. Tune in for a blend of practical strategy and personal reflection that focuses on building a sustainable and fulfilling design practice.
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