Research Thought Partner
Your research team has great talent, but something's off. Maybe it's the constant firefighting: Every stakeholder request feels urgent, leaving no time for strategic work. Maybe researchers are pulling in different directions, or you're spending more time managing up than developing your team. Maybe the executive team talks about being "data-driven" but still makes gut decisions when it counts.
I work with research leaders who know their teams could have more impact but can't quite figure out what's getting in the way. I've been there, with 20 years of experience in academic research and in-house UX research leadership, and three years consulting with research teams who face these exact challenges.
The problem isn't always non-research stakeholders ignoring research. Sometimes it's internal: Research teams struggle to prioritize effectively. Researchers can’t agree on how to approach stakeholder challenges. Managers are caught between competing demands from leadership and their direct reports.
These internal dynamics can kill your effectiveness before your work even reaches stakeholders.
Flexible Engagement Options
Team Effectiveness Deep Dive.
I map how your team actually operates: how decisions get made, where conflicts surface, what slows you down. Through stakeholder interviews and systematic observation, you'll get a clear picture of your team's current dynamics and a roadmap for strengthening them.
“Janelle helped our team understand different stakeholder perspectives and created connections we didn't see before, transforming how we collaborate across the organization.”
Strategic Workshops.
Intensive, hands-on sessions that solve specific problems with your team and key stakeholders in the room. Maybe you need better ways to say no to research requests. Maybe you need to align on standards and processes. We work on real scenarios, building solutions that stick.
"We went from being the team that slows down product launches to the team that prevents costly mistakes. Janelle helped us reframe our value proposition with leadership."
Individual and Team Coaching.
Flexible engagements for research leaders navigating organizational politics and management challenges, individual researchers developing influence skills, and teams working through internal conflicts or scaling/downsizing challenges.
"Janelle’s coaching approach immediately identified the core issues I was facing. By asking the right questions, she helped me develop the confidence and skills to navigate complex organizational challenges."
How I work.
I don't arrive with predetermined frameworks. Every research team operates in different contexts - different culture, constraints, leadership priorities. What works at a Series A startup won't work at a Fortune 500 company.
I figure out what's actually happening before deciding what should happen next. When you get the right people talking honestly about what's really slowing the team down, everything shifts. Team members understand each other's constraints. Leaders see where they need to step in versus step back. Everyone gets clearer on where your team’s energy can best focus.
Ready to chat? Reach out at janelle@janelleward.com or schedule a chat here.
Work with me.
Ready to reach the sweet spot where the right problems meet smart decisions and clear focus? Let's start the conversation.