Why Tools Are Not the Answer

Running a successful product organization is hard. There are so many challenges, and everyone’s day-to-day is super hectic. It’s no wonder there are many tools that try to resolve this. But tools alone won’t fix anything and can do the opposite. Here’s why.

Finding the Missing Piece in Your Product Strategy

A good product strategy connects multiple dots together and creates an end-to-end story that makes sense. When done right, there is a moment when you know all pieces are in place. But what do you need to do to get there? Here are the steps to follow.

Product Leadership Is a Team Sport

Influence without authority has always been the foundation of product management. As product leaders, this is even more important. To succeed, we must influence areas that are way beyond our control, and that’s a completely different ball game. Here are the things you must master in order to succeed.

Minding Your Manners With Stakeholders

Working well with stakeholders is crucial for your success. We often feel that they keep coming with requests that we have to deal with, which might lead to negative dynamics. Since it’s such an important topic, here are some guidelines to follow to make sure you are doing well.

How to Maintain a Fresh Perspective

One of the hardest things to do as a product leader or entrepreneur is to think about what you are already doing with a fresh eye. You are too immersed in what you have now to be able to see anything else. But often this is key to making the right decisions and identifying risks before they materialize. Here are two ways to do so.

3 Surprising Product Strategy Benefits

Not having a product strategy is often painful. You feel the impact of not knowing where you are going. But when you want to convince the company to invest in building such a strategy, you need to be able to explain what good it will bring. Here are three benefits of having a solid product strategy in place.

Product Strategy Iterations

A solid product strategy takes time to build. It usually involves hard decisions and non-trivial questions, which take time to answer well. It can’t be done in a rush, things need to sink in so that you can think it through. Here is the method I use for creating a product strategy that makes sense.

The Power of Not Understanding

One of the places where product leaders add the most value is by connecting the dots. Seeing a broad picture and making sure everything fits together is one of our superpowers. But what happens when the dots don’t connect? It’s your responsibility to call it out, even if you don’t fully understand why.

3 Hidden Forces in Your Customers’ Ecosystem That You Must Be Aware Of

There are many ingredients needed in order for your product to succeed. Not all of them are related to your product, or even to your product’s domain. Your customers’ ecosystem has more impact on your ability to succeed than you might think. Here is why.

You Can’t Take Everything Upon Yourself

As product leaders, our success depends on others. We are so used to helping people and making sure the company gets what it needs, that we sometimes take it too far. Where is the line that you shouldn’t cross? Here are three examples of things you shouldn’t do.

3 Misconceptions About CEO Communication

As product leaders, we constantly struggle to balance between getting guidance from above and setting the direction ourselves. The CEO, or any of the founders if you are in a startup, seems to rightfully want to set the tone. Or do they? Here are 3 things you want to pay attention to.

Strategic Debt Is the Silent Killer of Startups

With everything you have to do every day, it is so easy to neglect strategy. Not because it’s not important, but because it seems less urgent than everything else you have to deal with right here and now. But much like code, your product strategy also requires maintenance. And when left unhandled for too long, you might barely notice, but the impact can be deadly.