What are some common pitfalls and challenges of concept generation in remote teams?

1 Communication barriers

One of the main challenges of concept generation in remote teams is communication. You may have different time zones, languages, cultures, and preferences that can affect how you communicate and collaborate. For example, you may miss some cues, such as body language, tone, and facial expressions, that can help you understand and empathize with your team members. You may also have technical issues, such as poor internet connection, audio quality, or software compatibility, that can disrupt your communication flow. To overcome these barriers, you need to establish clear and frequent communication channels, such as video calls, chats, and emails, and use tools, such as shared documents, whiteboards, and feedback platforms, that can facilitate your concept generation process. You also need to respect and appreciate the diversity of your team and be mindful of the cultural and linguistic differences that may affect your communication style.

2 Lack of alignment

Another challenge of concept generation in remote teams is the lack of alignment. You may have different perspectives, assumptions, and expectations that can lead to confusion and conflict. For example, you may have different interpretations of the problem statement, the design criteria, or the concept evaluation methods. You may also have different levels of engagement, commitment, and motivation that can affect your participation and contribution. To overcome this challenge, you need to align your team on the goals, roles, and processes of concept generation. You need to define and communicate the problem statement, the design criteria, and the concept evaluation methods clearly and consistently. You also need to assign and clarify the roles and responsibilities of each team member and set realistic and measurable milestones and deadlines. You also need to foster a sense of trust, accountability, and recognition among your team members and celebrate your achievements and learnings.

4 Difficulty in convergence

A final challenge of concept generation in remote teams is the difficulty in convergence. You may have trouble narrowing down and selecting the best ideas from a large and diverse pool of concepts. For example, you may have too many or too few ideas, conflicting or biased opinions, or unclear or inconsistent criteria. You may also have difficulty in presenting and communicating your ideas effectively and persuasively to your team members, users, and stakeholders. To overcome this challenge, you need to apply and follow a systematic and rigorous process of concept evaluation and selection. You need to use tools, such as matrices, voting, and ranking, to compare and contrast your ideas based on the design criteria and the user feedback. You also need to use tools, such as sketches, mockups, and prototypes, to visualize and demonstrate your ideas clearly and convincingly. You also need to solicit and incorporate feedback and suggestions from your team members, users, and stakeholders, and be open and flexible to iterate and improve your ideas.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?