June Caldwell – senior UX writer and content designer

Part of working at a senior level is recognising when someone needs support, and knowing what kind of support that actually is.

Problem

A content designer who had recently joined the project was struggling to collaborate effectively with a UX designer. The UX designer needed content decisions made so they could progress. Those decisions weren’t being made, and work was stalling.

What I did

The surface behaviour was lack of action. But I recognised this as a confidence issue rather than disengagement. Someone new to a project, in an unfamiliar team, can find it hard to make calls without knowing yet whether they have the backing to do so.

I facilitated a session between them. My role was to hold the shape of the conversation and create a structured space for the content designer to make decisions, with me there as a safety net if needed.

They left the session with actions. The block was gone.

Outcome

The two designers were able to collaborate independently from that point. The content designer had evidence that their judgment was correct. The UX designer could move forward.

Unblocking is not always about process or tooling. It can be giving someone the confidence they need to back themselves.