Thriving in the Face of Change
Four tips for becoming a more resilient researcher (and person).
Even before the pandemic, my past few years at Facebook taught me a lot about resilience in the face of change. Adjusting to pivots in product direction helped me build muscles that have accelerated my growth as a researcher — and, I hope, as a person. Now, as we all respond to the changes brought by the pandemic, these lessons have greatly supported me in adapting my approach to product research. I’ve boiled down what I’ve learned into four key points:
1. Acknowledge challenges
It’s been a stressful time for everyone. Changes of the magnitude we’ve endured are uncomfortable, and most of us are working in suboptimal conditions. I’ve found that acknowledging the changes brought by the pandemic helps creates space for people to feel that things are not normal and that it’s okay not to be in a perfect state of mind.
Whether it’s a team meeting or a user interview, a shared moment in which we touch base on how things are going helps remind everyone that we’re sharing a difficult experience. This can help bring a sense of ease into the conversation by reducing any underlying anxiety.
2. Seek — and create — supportive interactions
When I experienced changes due to reorgs at work, I always tried to carve out additional time to check in with my team. However, when we started working remotely because of the pandemic, I found it much harder to check in with my team. Working online, while efficient, took away most opportunities for spontaneous conversation. Bonding over lunch or workplace chatter came to a halt. I realized that for camaraderie to develop, we need access to people as well as the stories we share. Creating social time with events like remote, agenda-free coffee breaks or a virtual offsite has helped rebuild our support framework.
3. Assess your focus
Given the magnitude of change we’re going through, you probably already have data pointing to use cases or trends that the pandemic has accelerated. Many product teams are scrambling to make decisions with limited data. If you have any evidence for or against certain changes, prioritize providing the relevant data or information to your leadership — and reassess the value of projects you’re already working on. Many of us have had to adjust our roadmaps to avoid spending time working on problems that are no longer relevant. Letting go of labors of love is a natural part of the research lifecycle, even more so now that we’re learning new ways to live and engage with one another.
4. Prioritize your well-being
This is a rough situation that affects how we show up in all aspects of our lives. It’s taken me a lot of time and self-reflection to get comfortable with the idea that the experience of going through any change is stressful, and that it’s okay not to be thrilled about it.
Allowing myself time to process — rather than scrambling to make sense of — an unfamiliar situation has helped me focus my time and energy more productively. In retrospect, change has often been a vastly net positive force in my life, both personally and professionally. But I find that the main thing I need to do, when I’m in the middle of change, is to allow myself to go through my emotions intentionally.
Someone once mentioned to me that we should learn from flight emergency practices and put on our own oxygen masks before trying to help others. While I’m not sure I’m good at doing that yet, I try to remind myself of the concept whenever pockets of turbulence arise. As we all continue to navigate unexpected change — and do our best to prepare for the next time it arises — I hope these simple tips encourage you to make sure you have what you need, take a deep breath, and step into your new reality.
Author: Rey E Upadhyaya, UX Researcher at Facebook
Illustrator: Sarah Lawrence
