Maverick Product Managers: The Innovation Revolution
From Waterfall to Problem-Solve: A Product Manager's Guide to Driving Innovation
Adaptation is the key to thriving and staying ahead of the competition in today's dynamic business landscape. As integral team members, product managers are pivotal in guiding their organizations toward a new paradigm that prioritizes problem-solving and product development. However, they aren't the lone architects of change.
Instead, they are critical collaborators in a collective effort to reshape the future of their organizations. But how can you contribute to this transformation as a product manager and influence your senior leadership to navigate the ship in the right direction?
Educating Senior Leadership: The Crucial First Step
As a product manager, your journey begins with the daunting task of educating your senior leadership team about the problem-solve-product approach. This can be incredibly challenging in organizations where senior leaders are steeped in the tradition of the waterfall model. It's like convincing your grandparents to switch from vinyl records to streaming music – change doesn't come easy, my friend.
I once found myself in such a situation when I joined a company with a senior leadership team primarily composed of baby boomers and early gen-Xers. They had perfected the art of the waterfall approach over the years and viewed change as a risk to their established power dynamics. But remember, humans are inherently selfish creatures, and letting go of control or accumulated power can be arduous.
So, how do you make them see the light at the end of the tunnel? Patience and persistence are your allies. Paint a vivid picture of the benefits of the problem-solve-product approach. You should introduce them to successful companies that have embraced the change and reaped the rewards. Drop names like Apple and Amazon and explain the magic of horizontal decision-making and the power of OKRs.
Radical Candor: Speak Your Truth
Radical candor – it's not just another management buzzword. It's a potent tool for a product manager seeking to sway the tide of change. You need to be open, honest, and direct in communicating with your colleagues, especially when explaining why the old approach is no longer suitable.
Imagine sitting down with your senior leadership team and saying, "The waterfall approach may have worked in the past, but we need to be more flexible and adaptable in today's rapidly changing business environment. Our competitors use the problem-solve-product approach, and if we don't do the same, we risk falling behind."
This level of honesty can be a game-changer but be prepared to face resistance. Change is uncomfortable for many, and resistance is a natural reaction. Share anecdotes from your journey to show that change can lead to extraordinary results.
OKRs to Measure Success: Goal-Setting Unleashed
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are not just a set of letters but a transformative force in the world of goal-setting. As a product manager advocating for change, your ability to utilize OKRs effectively can be the linchpin of success. But what makes OKRs so powerful, and how do they contribute to measuring success in the new problem-solve-product approach?
Imagine yourself standing at the helm of a project where the winds of change are gusting strongly. You set a clear objective: to increase customer satisfaction by 20% within six months using the problem-solve-product method. This is the "O" in OKRs, the Objective. It provides direction and purpose to your team.
Now, the "KRs" or Key Results come into play. They are the tangible, measurable outcomes that help you track your progress. They represent the landmarks you need to reach on your journey. These Key Results might include metrics such as decreased customer complaints, increased positive feedback, or a higher Net Promoter Score (NPS).
The beauty of OKRs is that they establish a shared understanding of what success looks like. They create alignment across the team and organization, fostering a collective sense of purpose. When everyone knows what they're working towards and how it will be measured, it becomes easier to direct your efforts effectively.
But OKRs are not just about numbers but about creating a culture of accountability and transparency. They encourage regular check-ins, discussions on progress, and adjustments as needed. It's a tool that promotes agility and adaptability, which is precisely what the new approach demands.
In practice, OKRs provide the compass and map for your journey, allowing you to navigate change effectively. Share personal anecdotes about how your team adopted OKRs and saw a substantial improvement in focus and productivity. Narrate the story of a quarter where your team exceeded its goals, thanks to the clarity and motivation that OKRs brought to the table.
The power of OKRs lies not just in reaching the destination but also in the journey and growth that happens along the way. Use your experiences to emphasize how OKRs are a pivotal tool in driving the success of the problem-solve-product approach.
Fall in Love with the Problem: A Love Story in Product Management
Falling in love with the problem is a poetic concept in product management but also a profound shift in mindset. As a product manager, your role is not just about finding a quick solution to a customer pain point; it's about understanding the deeper nuances of the problem and working tirelessly to address it. This approach transforms product management into a love story, with the problem at the heart of it all.
Picture yourself in a situation where a common issue arises, and the conventional response might be to rush into finding a solution. However, the problem-solve-product approach invites you to pause, take a step back, and delve deeper into the customer's pain points. It's like a detective delving into a complex case, peeling away layers to uncover the real story.
You gather your team and immerse yourselves in customer feedback, market research, and user insights. You engage in empathy-building exercises to truly understand what makes your customers tick. You seek to grasp what they say and feel, even when they might not articulate it clearly.
In one of your product management journeys, you might have stumbled upon a seemingly minor inconvenience that users encountered when navigating your app. It wasn't a glaring problem, but you fell in love with the challenge of making their experience even smoother. Your dedication to solving this problem not only enhanced the user experience but also reinforced the importance of looking beyond surface issues.
Narrate these personal anecdotes to bring the concept to life. Share how falling in love with the problem has led to more innovative and customer-centric solutions, resulting in products that truly resonate with your target audience. Describe how your team's passion for understanding and addressing core problems has become a driving force behind your success.
In product management, falling in love with the problem is not just a romantic notion; it's a practical approach that fosters innovation, differentiation, and the creation of products that genuinely make a difference. This approach is a love story where the problem is the protagonist and your role as a product manager is to craft the perfect ending that benefits your organization and your customers.
PMI versus Agile: The Battle of Management Styles
The choice between Project Management Institute (PMI) and Agile is pivotal. PMI represents the traditional, while Agile stands for flexibility and adaptability. As a product manager, you should make the case for Agile to embrace the new approach.
I vividly remember when we were at a crossroads, and the decision to embrace Agile was met with skepticism. However, I presented the case by saying, "Agile allows us to be more responsive to market and customer changes. It allows us to iterate quickly and deliver products that meet customer needs. Using Agile, we can stay ahead of the competition and create products that make a difference."
Relay your experiences and the difference Agile methodologies have made in your product development journey. Share how this shift in approach has helped your team stay ahead of the curve.
Moving from Vertical Decision-Making to Horizontal Decision-Making: The Power of Collaboration
Vertical decision-making, where decisions flow from the top down, has been the norm. However, the new approach necessitates horizontal decision-making, where collaboration and input come from all levels of the organization.
Imagine saying, "We need to involve all levels of the organization in the decision-making process. By doing so, we can ensure that everyone is on board with the new approach and that it is implemented effectively."
Share personal anecdotes about moments when collaboration led to extraordinary results and show how the power of horizontal decision-making can be a game-changer.
Provoke Reflection on Senior Leadership: A Shift in Perspective
Encourage your senior leadership to see things from the customer's perspective. Thought-provoking questions can be your gateway to achieving this shift. Ask them questions like:
"Can you think of a time when you felt like your voice wasn't heard by a company? How did that make you feel?"
I once sat down with a skeptical senior leader and asked, "If you were a customer of our company, what would you expect from us regarding problem-solving and product development?" It sparked a profound shift in perspective.
Share stories of how these questions have worked in your favor and emphasize how customer-centric thinking can drive market success. Show how companies like Apple and Amazon have thrived by embracing this approach.
Acknowledging the Change is Not Easy: The Bumps in the Road
Change is a bumpy road, and it's essential to acknowledge both the highs and lows you may encounter during this transformative journey. Celebrate the moments of increased collaboration, where departments that once operated in silos now work together seamlessly. The benefits of more effective problem-solving and a laser-sharp focus on customer needs should also be recognized. These are the rewards of your collective efforts.
But change isn't always smooth sailing. Team members who have become accustomed to the old way of doing things may resist and push back. The transition may be met with skepticism, and skepticism often translates into friction.
Breaking down those silos, which have been part of the organizational structure for so long, can be challenging. Different departments may have other priorities, and, as they say, "old habits die hard." Encouraging cross-functional collaboration may require more effort than you initially anticipated.
Challenges may also arise when measuring success in the context of the new approach. Setting OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is an effective way to measure progress, but has its intricacies. Adapting these metrics to fit the new approach can present challenges, but it's a crucial part of the change process.
Setbacks and failures may occur during the transition period. These can be disheartening, but they're also valuable learning opportunities. They highlight areas that require adjustments and demonstrate the need for resilience and determination.
Acknowledging the highs and lows of change can foster a culture of transparency. Celebrate successes, even the small ones, and use setbacks as springboards for growth. Team members should know you're all in this together, committed to achieving success regardless of obstacles.
Sponsorship, the Key to Success:
A sponsor within the senior leadership team is the key to overcoming resistance and facilitating change. This person is the bridge between you as a product manager and the rest of the leadership team, ensuring the vision is communicated clearly and effectively. But what does this sponsorship entail, and how can it make a difference?
I recall a specific instance in my career when I worked with a sponsor who truly understood the vision for change. This sponsor possessed the power and influence to make things happen, but more importantly, they were passionate about the new approach. Their unwavering support was instrumental in overcoming resistance and pushing the change agenda forward.
The role of a sponsor is not merely to advocate for change but to champion the cause. They can help navigate the turbulent waters of resistance, convincing even the staunchest skeptics. Their endorsement carries weight, reassuring team members that the change is necessary and supported by those in power.
Working closely with your sponsor, you can develop a strategy for introducing the new mindset and approach to the rest of the organization. This strategy may involve conducting training sessions or workshops, hosting town hall meetings, and creating a communication plan to keep everyone informed and engaged. Your sponsor will serve as the voice of authority, reinforcing the message that change is desirable and inevitable.
Remember, change is not easy, and it demands the commitment and dedication of everyone involved. But with the right sponsorship and a clear vision for the future, your organization can embrace a problem-solve-product approach that will enable it to remain competitive, drive innovation, and, most importantly, provide the quality services your customers deserve.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
Influencing senior leadership to embrace the problem-solve-product approach is not easy, but it's a journey worth taking. It requires radical candor, OKRs, falling in love with the problem, Agile, and horizontal decision-making. It also demands senior leadership's reflection and acknowledgment of the need for change.
As Beth Comstock wisely said, "If you don't cannibalize yourself, someone else will." So, be the agent of change, the navigator of the transition, and the visionary who leads your organization into a brighter future. Remember, change is the harbinger of innovation and customer-centric success.
With determination, persistence, and the right strategies, you can catalyze your organization's transformation. Embrace change, inspire your senior leadership, and steer your ship toward a future brimming with possibilities. The time for change is now, and you have the tools to make it happen.