Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

Kristin McPeak @kbmcp @pointsource @womentechsummit #witsnc

Women in Tech Summit • Oct 1, 2016

You

Team

1. I’m just going to do it.

2.

I’m going to change it.

Team?

Problem solving

Innovation

True cross disciplinary collaboration builds an organization’s effectiveness at

problem solving + innovation.

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Collaborating across disciplines

¤  Solves complex problems ¤  Enables innovation ¤  Increases velocity ¤  Prevents expensive rework ¤  Shares the ownership

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Courage

You got this.

Lay the groundwork

¤  Get personal ¤  Give up the blame game ¤  Watch your tone ¤  Be available ¤  Feel secure ¤  Be nice

@kbmcp #WITSNC

1. Just do it.

2.

Change it.

✓ Get some perspective.

IRL

Open your door before you knock on someone else’s.

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Can we talk through it?

Sure.

Thanks for asking.

Set up

¤  Devoted spaces ¤  High table tops ¤  Rolls of paper ¤  Colored pencils ¤  Whiteboards ¤  Webcam

Get some perspective.

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Hello, creative PointSourcers! We are creating a series of t-shirts to giveaway at the upcoming conference and we want them to Be Awesome. That's where you come in. Join us in the Carnegie conference room to brainstorm slogans to print on the shirts. Think mobile... think differentiator... think memorable... think about what YOU would want to wear. Thanks in advance, for your contributions!

Structure for the hour long creative session: ¤  5 mins: Introduction to the challenge

¤  5 mins: Personal brainstorm on paper

¤  15 mins: Break into 3 groups to pool ideas and skim the best off the top

¤  15 mins: Each group has 5 mins to pitch their best ideas, iterating as a large group

¤  15 mins: Full group iterates to narrow down to 3-4 best ideas

¤  5 mins: Wrap-up

Start where you are.

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Collaboration is not preparation for the work, it IS the work.

@kbmcp #WITSNC

She who initiates, facilitates.

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Set the stage

¤  Get specific ¤  Keep it lean ¤  Define roles ¤  Drive forward ¤  Timebox

Participate

¤  Find your voice ¤  Let down your guard ¤  Be open to compromise ¤  Stay focused

Turn collaboration into a habit

¤  Build it in ¤  Give it a name ¤  Have tools at the ready ¤  Carve out physical space ¤  Reflect regularly

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Celebrate collaboration

¤  Focus on results ¤  Co-present work ¤  Credit the full team ¤  Reward collaborative behavior

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Give up control, get empowered.

@kbmcp #WITSNC

Kristin McPeak

Thanks!

@kbmcp @pointsource @womentechsummit #witsnc