A Simplified Strategic Planning Framework

The goal of goals is to help everyone focus and aim in the right direction. But sometimes, in the attempt to achieve more, companies are not willing to give up on any front, which means no focus at all. Here is how to regain focus and help everyone understand what they need and needn’t do.

The Secrets to a Successful Onboarding Plan

In the current hiring frenzy, everyone is struggling to find the right talent. But once you have found them and convinced them to work with you, the journey only begins. The path of a new product person into the company is a tricky one to master. Here are the tips that will help you help them.

Ideal World First, Compromise Later

As product leaders, our professional lives are full of constraints. What’s possible to develop, what can be measured, what management wants, and the list goes on. We are so used to working within these constraints that we sometimes forget to even consider a better alternative. Here are a few places where you don’t want to make this mistake.

Do You Need a Roadmap?

We live in an agile world. Plans change all the time. In such conditions, is building a roadmap worthwhile? This question is more interesting if you are following a coherent strategy, which usually means that you know more or less what needs to be done next. Still, a roadmap has many surprising benefits. Here are a few.

How to Find Your Strategic Anchors

Strategic thinking is hard by definition. It deals with many unknowns, as well as multiple dimensions and variables at any given time. The only way to move forward is to identify the real anchors and build around them. Here’s how to do that.

3 Steps to Upgrading Your Hiring Skills

Hiring the right people is so important, but how can you be sure that you are making the right choice? It all starts with understanding what you really need, in levels much deeper than the job description. Here is a simple method to help you choose the best people.

Working Well With People Can Become Your Glass Ceiling

It is a known fact that product people need to work well with others. Our ability to succeed fully depends on it. But as a product leader, this can also become a problem. To make a real impact, you might need to apply new ways of communication and collaboration. Here is how to stop impeding yourself.

3 Ways to Simplify Complex Decisions

Complex decisions are a natural part of a product leader’s life. Sometimes it is our own decisions that we need to make simpler, and sometimes we need to help management or our teams make better decisions. When a decision is facing a deadlock, here are three simple ways to resolve it and move forward.

Some Things Simply Take Their Time

We all want results, and the sooner the better. But some things – especially the impactful ones – cannot be rushed. How can you tell if it’s time to push harder, or should you let things move at their own pace? Here are three examples of areas that usually take longer to demonstrate results, but progress happens whether you see it or not.

Maturity Model: The Secret Weapon

Creating a successful product requires a deep understanding of your customers. That’s not news. But your customers’ world might be a complex one to navigate through. Here is a simple and powerful tool to help you – and them – understand themselves better.

Why Product Demo Is a Dangerous Selling Tool

Many startups feel that the only thing preventing them from selling their product is a great demo. The truth is quite different. In fact, if you rely on your demo too much, you won’t be able to sell at all. Here’s how to use your product demo smartly, and avoid demo abuse.

3 Hard Conversations Worth Having

Difficult situations are never fun. Unfortunately, as product leaders, we encounter them often. More unfortunately, ignoring them usually isn’t going to make them go away. Having an honest conversation is the first step. Here are three such conversations that are worth getting out of your comfort zone for.