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How the complete loss of my voice has shown me what mattered the most in UX Research
I couldn't even whisper for an entire week full of meetings. Looking back, my interactions from this period provide lessons for all those who want to improve their engagements with research participants
About four months ago, I woke up to start what was going to be my first day at work after my maternity leave. Even before opening my eyes, however, I noticed that something was wrong. I couldn’t even whisper to my 5-month-old daughter that was laying right beside me.
Viral infections are common — such as the one that caused my laryngitis — amongst parents who have kids in daycare. Yet, what’s still unusual is the complete loss of voice, especially on your first day at work. In this article, I’ll reflect on what I’ve learned on those days and why it’s relevant for all those who engage with UX Research, whether as full-time researchers, designers, or Product Managers.
Building rapport
When I was unable to pronounce a word, I leveraged Google Translate to type a text, click listen, and let the person in front of me hear it. I typed whatever I would say in a regular conversation:
This method offered a temporary means to communicate. Still, I didn’t feel at ease. Being unable to respond promptly to any comments or ask questions for clarifications made me feel insecure both in person and online events. It didn’t matter whether it was a 1–1 or a team gathering.
Then, after the first day, something strange happened. There were a group of people with whom my interactions started to feel seamless. There was something about communicating with them that made me feel super comfortable, “normal”, and be myself. Our conversation (e.g., they were talking and I was either gesturing, playing audio from Google Translate, or both) was fruitful. Beyond exchanging information, I felt that our conversation brought us closer somehow, and I felt I was accepted and safe in…
