Stakeholders Are Not the Enemy With Thomas Stokes & Lawton Pybus

If empathy is such a core UX skill, why are so many designers bad at applying it to the people they work with?

Designers love talking about empathy for users. But if your research findings are getting ignored or your design recommendations keep getting watered down, it might be time to turn that empathy inward.

Thomas and Lawton join me from Drillbit Labs. They both have PhDs in human factors, and they help product teams make smarter decisions with less drama. This week, they make a pretty compelling case: if you’re not applying your research mindset to the people you work with, you’re not doing your job.

We talk about how to use stakeholder interviews, power mapping, one-on-ones, and intentional relationship-building to get unstuck—and what to do when your best ideas are still getting shot down. If you’re tired of saying “they just don’t get it,” this episode is for you.

Topics:
• 03:04 – The Importance of Empathy in Software Development
• 03:25 – Guest Introduction: Thomas and Lawton from Drill Bit Labs
• 04:27 – Empathy for Team Members: A Deeper Dive
• 07:10 – The Role of Human Factors in Team Dynamics
• 16:06 – Practical Tips for Building Empathy with Stakeholders
• 20:49 – The Importance of Stakeholder Relationships
• 36:51 – Tools and Tactics for Effective Team Collaboration
• 38:39 – Understanding Empathy in Decision Making
• 39:33 – De-biasing Techniques and Their Importance
• 40:23 – Spotting and Naming Cognitive Biases
• 43:05 – The Value of One-on-Ones
• 45:37 – Remote Work and Maintaining Human Connection
• 54:06 – Balancing Personal Investment in Work Decisions

Helpful Links:
• ⁠Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠Connect with Lawton on LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠Depth Newsletter⁠
• ⁠Drill Bit Labs

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