Squads Done Right: Mastering Modern Team Dynamics

Many companies find the promise of empowered product teams compelling. They see the problems in their existing structure and strive to adopt modern best practices. But changing structure alone won’t help; if done too bluntly, it can do more harm than good. Here is how to balance autonomy and flexibility with stability and structure.

Sticking to Your Leadership When Facing Powerful Stakeholders

As product managers, you often need to deal with stakeholders who are a few levels above you. At that seniority level, they don’t always see things through but still have a lot of impact on your ability to proceed in your own direction. Here are a few tips to help you maintain your leadership even in these challenging relationships.

They Don’t Understand Your Role as a Product Leader. But Do You?

The role of the product leader goes far beyond managing the product department. Unfortunately, in most companies, there is no one who can tell you that, simply because they haven’t seen it before. Here is your true responsibility as a product leader so that it’s no longer a secret.

Top 3 Traps Managers of Product Managers Fall Into

Managing product managers is a complex task that goes beyond traditional leadership skills. While you probably have what it takes since you already got the job, there are common pitfalls that can significantly impact your team’s effectiveness and success. Let’s explore these pitfalls and how to steer clear of them.

Building Trust Around Customer Requests

Dealing with customer requests is not always easy. Who owns these requests? Who gets to decide? And how do you say no when it has implications? It all starts with the right mindset and thinking framework. Here is a good way to approach it.

Why Great Products Aren’t Always Successful

Having a great product – one that customers really love, is important, but it is not enough to ensure the product’s success. There are other things that need to happen, and not all of them are in your hands or even in the company’s hands. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid.

Validation Is the Wrong Word

Everyone knows you can’t build a startup without proper validation. But validation is not the best word to describe what you really need to do and which results you can expect from it. Here is why, and what you need to do instead.

The Roadmap Dilemma

Are roadmaps still a thing? Given that it is going to change, is it worth putting all the time and effort it takes into building a solid roadmap? My answer is yes, and here’s why.

5 Limiting Beliefs to Eliminate From Your OKR Planning

OKRs are often the connecting tissue between strategy and execution. But many times execution takes precedence over strategy already in the plan. To keep your OKRs strategic you must rise above the temptation to stick to execution. Here are 5 points that will help you do so.

How to Lead When It’s Not Your Decision to Make

Product leadership is a challenging role because you are expected to lead but don’t have the authority to decide on your own. It’s not trivial, but the right mindset can do wonders. Here are a few tricks to get you there.

Creativity Hacks for the Uncreative Product Manager

Despite what many product managers think, creativity is not only for the gifted. Logical thinking plays a critical role in your ability to innovate. Here’s how.

Why Your OKRs Need a Hierarchy

OKRs are an extremely powerful tool, but many companies fail to see the value they bring. This is often due to poor implementation. Among the many mistakes companies make, a flat list of OKRs is a very common one. Here is why you should avoid it and what you should do instead.