Episode 6: Dear Melissa - Answering Questions About Product Transformation
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Q: As the leader of a new product function initiative, what steps can I take to earn the CEO’s trust and create a company culture that embraces an outcome-driven and product-lead mindset? [2:07]
A: The first thing you should do is work on your relationships. You need to understand where people are coming from, so talk to the CEO and ask them what the goals are for the product management organization. Try to get their understanding of your role, and ask about the outcomes they want to see from the transition. In building your product management team, you should step back, identify where everyone is in the organization, and demonstrate what good product management looks like. [2:42]
Q: How can I ensure my company is approaching product transformation in the right way? [7:31]
A: The first thing that I ask when I go into a product transformation is: “How does it change your business?” Product transformation is about being different than you were before, so you have to align your goals towards that. First, identify the intended outcomes that the company wants, so you'll know how to react appropriately towards it. Then you can figure out if the company is just trying to make things marginally better or if they truly want a transformation. [8:13]
Q: How long does it take a strong product manager (junior to intermediate level) to make some positive impact in a company that lacks a good product culture? Should they stick around if there are no big positive changes after a year, or should they move on to try and learn elsewhere? [15:18]
A: It's really hard to change the entire culture of an organization at that level. Culture in an organization is a direct reflection of the values, beliefs, and systems of operations of managers and executives, so it takes a lot of top-down leadership to change it. If you want to be a change agent I'd say stick it out, but if you want to be a product person, go somewhere where you're going to learn from amazing product people because being a change agent is a full time job. [15:40]
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