Event Reflection: A Workshop for Developing Self-Awareness
On a rainy night in Manhattan, 30 designers and researchers came to Zocdoc for a workshop. For a group that counts empathy as a core job responsibility, it was a rare opportunity to spend a few hours turning that empathy inwards.
When I first heard about the workshop plan, the topic immediately struck me as important: using self-awareness to advocate for oneself in the workplace, even in the face of difficult interpersonal situations. As the only user researcher at Zocdoc, I’m hyper aware that the way I talk about my work affects how stakeholders consume it. Careful self-reflection on how I position myself in the organization helps give my work greater impact.
Ingrid Dahl has an enviable role at Capital One: Director of Learning Experiences. She helps designers amplify their voices by growing their confidence and self-knowledge. She was the perfect guide as attendees reflected on how they engage colleagues, formulated workplace goals, and sketched out actionable steps to achieve them.
We began with a reflection: How did we want to be perceived at work? And, how do we not want to be perceived? At the time, it seemed like a simple exercise. In the weeks since, it’s been hugely clarifying: by referencing these two lists, I can better combat bad habits, feel proud of good ones, and actively shape how I’m perceived.
Later, we roleplayed a past workplace conflict with a partner, giving us a chance to voice our feelings to a colleague. We saw how these conflicts are often rooted in misperceptions. It felt radical to speak honestly with a “coworker” about how this affects one’s work. Reactions varied, from feelings of empowerment, to nervousness, and most of all intensity. We could all use the practice in overcoming discomfort to be heard and validated in the future.
Taking what we learned about self-reflection and honesty with colleagues, we applied it to our own personal goals to help reframe challenges as growth opportunities. What are the unproductive behaviors and beliefs that keep us from taking action? Ingrid called these “learning edges,” which I love — unhelpful behaviors can instead be thought of as rungs on a stepladder of growth.
Afterwards, I ventured back into the rainy evening with a renewed sense of confidence and a clear set of practical steps for turning negative situations into opportunities for growth, communication, and goal-setting.
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Laura MacMillan is a Senior UX Researcher at Zocdoc.
P.S. My team at Zocdoc is looking for two product designers to join us in NYC! It's an awesome team doing exciting work in healthcare. Send me a note if you’re interested, or apply directly here.
