[visakanv]

Nice post, the examples really drive the distinction home.

My big takeaway from this is that it's NOT about asking people to compromise their personal values- that probably makes people feel attacked and undervalued.

Rather, it's about getting people to see that different situations require different skillsets- and teams are actually better off when they have diverse perspectives and values- if they can work together respectfully.

[qamuri]

As a designer who's worked with both marketers and engineers (and not forgetting customer support folks), I can definitely relate! I think a working relationship that’s driven by humility and empathy helps everyone focus on creating better work together.

Another point I'd add (from a designer's perspective) to get different teams on the same page is that, cross-team collaboration and communication can often be made more effective and richer simply by using whiteboard and markers during discussions. Having something visual to point at and talk about makes it easier for everyone align themselves to each other’s lenses, and also reduce misunderstandings that drive people crazy.

[visakanv]

Man, I am so jealous of people who can express themselves clearly through drawings and visuals. I try my best, but I'm nowhere near as good as I'd like to be.

A quote comes to mind: "A prototype is worth a thousand meetings." I think it's always easier to get on the same page if we're literally looking at the same thing (as opposed to arguing about our ideas about said thing.)

[dgr]

Yes having talented team members at both extremes can be powerful. The key is to prevent individuals from retreating into the mindset of "I have a hammer and everything looks like a nail". A large part of that involves showing everyone that diversity is necessary and can really benefit the company if these perspectives are fused in the right way.