Weekly Product Hits: Pre-Mortems, Intentional Work, Presenting Roadmaps
Product Hits: July 1, 2024Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Leveraging Pre-Mortems by Deb Liu Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com, highlights the importance of pre-mortems in anticipating potential failures and mitigating risks before launching a product. By envisioning worst-case scenarios, product teams can address blind spots and align on strategies to prevent issues. Liu also recommends using pre-mortems for career planning, helping PMs identify and tackle potential pitfalls to achieve their professional goals. More Intentional Ways of Working by Jackie Colburn Product consultant Jackie Colburn emphasizes the importance of heart-centered work environments where employees feel seen, heard, and appreciated. By aligning work with personal values and fostering trust and empathy, product managers can create a more sustainable and authentic relationship with work. Implementing heart-centered practices can lead to better communication, increased psychological safety, and stronger team collaboration, ultimately supporting the well-being of both individuals and organizations. How to Present a Roadmap to Stakeholders by Hilary Johnson Hilary Johnson, Head of Product at Unmind, emphasizes the importance of delivering an effective product roadmap presentation to align stakeholders and avoid last-minute surprises. She advises understanding stakeholders' needs, clearly communicating the roadmap, and leaving room for feedback to build buy-in and confidence in the product's direction. Behind the ScenesHey there, it's Clement! Recently, a product leader reached out to me for advice on fostering effective cross-functional collaboration within their organization. One insight I shared was the importance of establishing a shared understanding of roles, responsibilities, and objectives across teams. By clearly defining how each function contributes to the product development process, PMs can help break down silos and promote a sense of shared ownership. We also discussed strategies for facilitating open communication and building strong relationships with cross-functional stakeholders. I recommended setting up regular check-ins, actively seeking feedback, and celebrating wins together as a team. Effective cross-functional collaboration is essential for bringing successful products to market, but it can be challenging to navigate different personalities, priorities, and working styles. If you're struggling to align your cross-functional teams, I’d be delighted to coach you through the situation through our paid coaching services. Don’t hesitate to reach out! With love, Let's do more together!
|
Product Teacher
In-depth essays and thought-provoking reads for product managers.
Product Hits: April 28, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Sales, not logistics by Wes Kao Wes Kao, co-founder of Maven, warns that jumping into logistics before securing buy-in is a critical communication mistake. She urges PMs to frame requests around impact and motivation first, using her "sales, not logistics" approach to drive action and influence stakeholders more effectively. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery by...
Product Hits: April 21, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! PhDs Aren't Starting Companies Like They Used To by Nnamdi Iregbulem Nnamdi Iregbulem, Partner at Lightspeed Ventures, examines how the growing burden of knowledge and lack of division of labor discourage PhD-level talent from entrepreneurship. Therefore, PMs who work with PhDs like data scientists or ML researchers can attract and empower PhD talent by implementing...
Product Hits: April 14, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Too detailed by Wes Kao Wes Kao, co-founder of Maven, emphasizes the importance of tailoring communication details to the audience and context. She advises PMs to reduce cognitive load by focusing on clarity and actionable takeaways. Aligning Teams Around Strategy by Victoria Wisot Victoria Wisot, Partner at AKF Partners, outlines seven practices to keep teams focused...