Weekly Product Hits: Growth Mindsets, Using Principles, Finesse
Product Hits: October 7, 2024Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Practical tips for applying the growth mindset to product by Merci Victoria Grace Merci Victoria Grace, former Head of Growth at Slack, emphasizes the importance of cultivating a growth mindset as a primary driver for success in product management, rather than relying solely on technical skills. She provides practical advice for fostering self-awareness, seeking feedback, and effectively managing relationships with managers, all through the lens of continuous learning and growth. Grace also highlights the value of vulnerability and transparency in management, offering key strategies to create high-performance, growth-driven teams. Smart Use of Principles by Noa Ganot Noa Ganot, founder of Infinify, emphasizes the power of principles in product leadership, advocating for their use to create clarity, alignment, and guide decision-making in uncertain situations. However, Ganot cautions that principles can lead to unproductive debates if they are overly rigid or not actionable, recommending flexibility in how they are applied to specific decisions. Finesse by Wes Kao Wes Kao, co-founder of Maven, dissects the often overlooked skill of finesse, defining it as the ability to navigate delicate scenarios to achieve desired outcomes. Wes urges leaders to develop and teach finesse within their teams, as it enables more successful outcomes in high-stakes situations. Behind the ScenesHey there, it’s Clement! Let’s discuss a critical yet overlooked element of high-performance teams: psychological safety. Without psychological safety, even the most talented teams may underperform, as fear and uncertainty hinder them from taking risks or sharing new ideas. Developing this environment is essential for your team's success. This means encouraging open communication, allowing for mistakes, and ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard. Open communication. Encourage team members to share their own ideas and concerns openly. Regular check-ins, brainstorming sessions, and anonymous feedback channels can help ensure everyone is on the same page and diverse perspectives are all considered. Allowing room for mistakes. View mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures. Create a team where team members feel safe to take different risks and experiment to develop creativity and continuous improvement. Ensuring everyone feels valued and heard. Recognize and appreciate each team member’s contributions. Actively listen to their own input, provide constructive feedback, and celebrate small and big successes. When all team members feel valued, they are more engaged and committed to their work. When team members feel safe, they’re more likely to share innovative ideas, collaborate effectively, and take ownership of their own work. I’d love to hear how you apply these strategies in your own organization! With love, Let's do more together!
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Product Teacher
In-depth essays and thought-provoking reads for product managers.
Product Hits: July 21, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Networking, Reframed by Deb Liu Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com, reframes networking as long-term community-building rooted in generosity and consistency, rather than selfish short-term transactions. When PMs invest early in authentic relationships, they can draw on that trust when it’s time to seek support. Avoid incepting negative ideas by Wes Kao Wes Kao, co-founder of...
Product Hits: June 30, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Saying No Is a Strategy, Not a Sacrifice by Noa Ganot Noa Ganot, founder of Infinify, argues that trying to please everyone is the fastest path to mediocrity. She urges PMs to treat “no” as a strategic tool (not a reluctant compromise!) because focus and trade-offs are what make a product truly valuable to the right customers. 6 Principles for Structuring...
Product Hits: June 16, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! You’re more free than you think by Linda Zhang Linda Zhang, founder of Product Lessons, argues that remote and asynchronous work have unlocked new levels of career freedom. She encourages product managers to embrace flexibility, focus on learning, and build resilience by seeking out rejection. One Foot in Front of the Other by Deb Liu Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com,...