Product Coach Podcast
By The Coach
Product Coach PodcastAug 17, 2020
Your principles define the outcomes
This podcast is inspired by the book 'Priniciples' from Ray Dalio. As i was reading through the book it struck a chord with me as it resonated with the trials and tribulations of what a product manager goes through, we experience a number of situations for which we don't have answers. In this episode we glean on a few nuggets of wisdom which can remarkably change the way in which you go about executing your job.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates and follow us on twitter.
Managing your career - time to move? or upskill?
As product managers we love using frameworks and we are so good at using frameworks in managing products but we are terrible at managing our own careers, we don't manage our careers with the same tenacity and vision as with how we manage our product roadmaps. In this podcast we are going to talk about how to plan for that next move and to build up your confidence to take the next step.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
Developing data driven products
We have all heard this statement that "Data is the new oil". Why has Data become so important? We are now at a point where every aspect of a transaction is now recorded and there are as fewer instances where we dont have data. There are some super apps out there which offer every thing possible under the sun from making a peer to peer payment, hiring a nanny, buying a coffee, investing, insurance and booking a taxi. These companies know everything about the person - all their spending habits, savings propensity, likely expenses for the month and the list goes on.
Product managers today are in at a unique advantage today to shape their product roadmap with ready access to massive data lakes and intelligent algorithms which provide valuable information. In this podcast we discuss the merits of data driven design decisioning.
This is the first part on this topic. Read our post on Personal data how much is enough
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
Responding to office meddlers - how to gracefully say 'No Thanks'.
We always have that someone who throws in a random unsolicited ideas and suggestions to your projects. While we are told to be open minded the reality is that's we have our biases and we do get annoyed and tend to respond too early. In this podcast we talk about how you can take a pause in your response and give yourself a bit of time to navigate through this. The product manager is put in an unfair situation when the meddler sends in their suggestion. By understanding the situation and taking a well thought out approach you can politely say NO if the idea doesn't make sense.
Design products with empathy
Commerce has always been about selling more and keeping customers happy. When customers come into the physical store the shopping experience and the ability to touch and feel the product before the sale is made, or even having a delightful conversation with the sales person drives the decision to purchase. So it should seem logical that if the physical store has been replaced by an App then that App needs to similarly wrap the customer with a blanket of affection, care and trust. This is where understanding the end user, empathising with their situation and then translating into good product design with simple, intuitive, connected and immersive user experiences will drive customer acquisition, sales and growth of e-commerce.
Digital experiences should be all about freedom of choices, transparency and immersive user experiences. If one of these are compromised in the product design then expect to see lower user acceptance. In this podcast we travel back in time to 2000 where we share how design and experiences have evolved to where we are today. It's important to understand this context as many people in leadership roles today just don't understand why UX is important.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
Build your execution playbook
A playbook puts together strategies, decision criteria, assumptions and inputs which are required to chart a way forward. It also serves as a compass to navigate through the obstacles to reach the desired goal. Playbooks are used in sports and there is merit in incorporating this approach in product management. A well documented playbook extends into incorporating your learnings and experiences being synthesised into a set of crisp notes which you can call on in the future. The playbook is influenced by your organisation, culture, people and the typical challenges that you would encounter in managing and launching products. The playbook is also your library of best practices, political toolkit and your battle card which will help you build a habit of thinking ahead and planning for the best execution outcomes.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
Building products for the future
In our fast paced digital world how can a product manager stay relevant to customers and the business? Future proofing and solving the problems of tomorrow requires a different kind of thinking. One has to start by getting into a deep work flow of carefully analysing the visualising how the next couple of years will shape up. While there is no crystal ball for accuracy there are cues which can be taken into consideration to form a view of where society and business is heading.Think about how the future narrative of business will change in the next 5 years and how we must as product managers position ourselves for our own career growth and how we need to change the way we think and empower ourselves to continuously adapt. The products of the future will be smart, connected, decentralised, and immersive. If we limit our creativity and innovation to the problem statements that are driven from the events and systems that exist today, then we are not doing justice to our roles as product managers. We must ask ourselves "What will the problems of tomorrow be?"
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
B2B product dynamics with sales
Product managers who are in the B2B space have their work cut out for them. B2B product delivery is complex. There is very little wiggle room to test a product concept and get direct user feedback. Products that are not of a "one size fits all". There are specific nuances across countries and industries. Companies selling into the B2B space have specialised sales managers who have domain knowledge and insights into how these companies operate - who their customers are, how they buy, how they in-turn sell their products and grow their business. Building a partnership with sales will enable better understanding of what problems needs solving and in turn influence the product design. Knowing your role and power of influence with the sales team is critical for win-win outcomes. Product plays the role of the manufacturer (the guy in the kitchen who cooks all the great food for everyone), the sales folks bring in the diners.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
Starting a career in product management
The product manager role has picked up significant traction in the last five years. It's no longer seen as a job which gets piggy backed on the back of another role. Today the profession is getting a lot of attention and it is now recognised as a critical role, where the product manager is that go to person sitting at the intersection of business, customer, technology and user experience - driving business growth, manage execution risk and solving customer problems. This podcast gives insights for graduates and early career professionals who want to give product management a shot
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
Future of work - Product Manager of the Future
The new normal is accelerating the future of work and shaping a new outlook for product managers on what the future of work could look like. The Future of work prior to the pandemic was geared towards which jobs could be automated through artificial intelligence and robotic process automation. The OECD has now defined the future of work as : "The future of work is now. Digitalisation and globalisation have sparked radical shifts in how we live and work. The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has accelerated these beyond anything we could have imagined. These changes raise essential questions about the precarity of our jobs, the support available if we're unable to work or retire, the skills we need for current and future jobs, the quality of those jobs, and what voice we have in shaping these outcomes".
In this podcast we look into the near future and predict what lies ahead for product managers. In the years ahead the role of a product manager will evolve into a mash up of varied skillsets covering both business and technology and a convergence of roles. There are many factors which are pointing to this new world of product management.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter to view our regular insightful tweets.
Agile ways of working
Agile was pitched to the business as a way to deliver commercially valuable software in a timely and incremental way, We explore in detail what makes and breaks agile and how businesses needs to change the way in which they operate to accommodate. Agile is not for every project and there are reasons for this. Agile has a strong dependancy on the capability of the product owner and the product manager. Listen on to get a primer on how agile may solve or complicate your projects. This partnership model between business and technology brings together a collaborative model for product delivery and increased end user and customer satisfaction.
Starting a new product manager role
Starting a new role is exciting and while everyone has their own way to get themselves soaked into their new job we outline here an approach for consideration. These tasks will get you up to speed fairly quickly and will help you zero in on some areas which you should focus on to meet the expectations of the role. If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream and follow us on twitter
The builder product manager
In a product management team there needs to be diversity of skills and talent to take on the business opportunities as they come. There are workers who are comfortable with chugging along doing the everyday tasks and making sure that products and platforms are operating optimally. There is another group of workers who get more excited pushing the boundaries and dabbling with the creation of new products and experimentation. This is where builders come in. Builders are comfortable to be dropped into the deep end. They absorb information in quick time and makes them an ideal candidate to lead new product development. Find out what makes a good builder product manager.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream. We would like to hear from you if you find the case study approach suitable for podcasting and if you want us to cover case studies more frequently.
The product managers communication guide with technology, management and sales
Getting things done, there is more to just influencing and prioritising. Communication is a key aspect of the product managers daily role. The narrative used by the product manager when interacting with technology and the various business teams differs. In this podcast we walkthrough how the PM successfully engages different teams to get things done.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream. We would like to hear from you if you find the case study approach suitable for podcasting and if you want us to cover case studies more frequently.
Lessons in product management - building an ecosystem - Apple, a case study
Ecosystems have been the buzz for quite a few years now and product managers should embrace this more. Ecosystems take time to build out and the journey can start with just one product. In this podcast I plot my personal discovery with apple and how apple started their modern day ecosystem through their iPod. Not only did the ecosystem evolve over the years from music to everything else that we see today, but their ecosystem has also played a pivotal role in the growth of their overall business.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream. We would like to hear from you if you find the case study approach suitable for podcasting and if you want us to cover case studies more frequently.
Lessons in product management - Blackberry (formerly RIM) a Case Study
This case study examines how the company went from being the market leader in mobile communication to a company which today is far away from its glorious years. We talk about how continued innovation is important and why product management should play a pivotal role in influencing corporate strategy and why the product roadmap should adapt to what users want.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream. We would like to hear from you if you find the case study approach suitable for podcasting and if you want us to cover case studies more frequently.
Product management needs to lead the digital transformation
As product leaders it is implied that we need to lead the transformation to digital. As a key engine of growth PMs need to think digital and put their hands up to ask for more investment to deliver digital experiences. PMs are also being asked to respond quickly to market events and to be ambitious. Its a great time to be a product manager, we are in the drivers seat and have the opportunity to take the business forward in these trying times.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream. We would like to hear from you on how you engage your product teams to be digital focused.
Product managers guide to working remotely
From one product manager to another, many of us are going to continue working from home for the rest of the year. We have to continue collaborating with co-workers and customers and make good with what we have access to at home. This podcast will provide you some tips on improving your workflow so that you can run more efficient engagements. Setup your environment to stay productive and learn to use your communication tools to be run effective meetings.
If you like more content like this subscribe to productcoach.net to get regular updates or click on our RSS stream. We would like to hear from you on how you manage your work from home. Let us know if you would like to share your stories with us.
The product managers manifesto
A manifesto for product managers encourages a culture of openness and accountability. Every product manager should have one. The product manager plays a important role in an organisation. Without the execution of a certain set of principles a product manager cannot fullfll their role and chart out the future roadmap which an organisation needs to compete effectively. Every product organisation should look to cultivate a habit of encouraging the creation of a manifesto for product managers. The ways of working are changing, there is also a drive for inclusion and diversity in the workplace. A good manifesto can help drive that.
We hope the product manifesto will help you drive the change you have in mind for yourself and your teams. We welcome feedback. Register / subscribe for more updates at productcoach.net . Your continued interest is the inspiration we need to keep creating awesome content for all product managers out there.
Why product managers should meet customers
As product manager we should love speaking to our customers. Them using our products is the best indicator that we are doing something right and our products are serving their purpose. In my experiece customer are often delighted to be able to speak to the product managers, they feel extremely valued that their opinions are being sought after. So be confident when you are around customers. I hope this podcast will help you increase your engagements with customers. These insights are a valuable for product managers to make prioritisation decisions. We welcome your thoughts and experiences on how you go about engaging customers and use their feedback. Register yourself at productcoach.net and help the community.
Create a business case in a day
Ever been in a situation where you have been asked to prepare a business case within a day? In this podcast we chart through how to go about getting a quick business together so that you can walk away knowing you have given it your best shot. This approach is better than a back of the napkin and finger in the air kind of estimate. Great product managers take pride in submitting quality business cases. Listen through the podcast and share your thoughts with us at the productcoach.net
Focus on the solution not the problem
Great product managers are masters at problem solving. They focus on how to move forward rather than getting stuck on the why the problem occurred. We examine how product managers could take a proactive approach to problem solving. Lets now look at a few behavioural and leadership traits you should develop to help you become a great problem solver. Visit productcoach.net for more insights &practical skills which are essential for product managers.
Product communication - Its all about the narrative
Building up the right narrative for your product is a discovery process for most product managers. Often different narratives are required. In this episode we discuss examples of good narratives and how to get comfortable with building out your own narratives for your product. You will have a better appreciation on the importance of investing in your narrative, its after all your product.
Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable in dealing with change
One thing is constant in this world and that is change. How does constant change impact product managers and what are the lessons we should expect to learn and be prepared for as the world around us evolves. Product managers must look at their job function as one which is dynamic and evolving and not rely on the status quo for continued career growth and product performance. In this episode we will look at some external forces which have driven change - leaps in technology, changes in business models, regulations, evolving customer experiences and impact from generation Z.
How techie do you have to be as a product manager
With so much innovation going on its a challenging time to be a product manager. Reliance on technology to deliver digital propositions raises the question on whether product managers need to be technically strong. In this podcast we discuss a balanced approach to be adequately enabled to help support your PM role.
How to get funding for a product
Having a product roadmap requires adequate funding to be in place. As a product manager you need to be mindful of how to successfully pitch your case to get the funding which you need. We will delve into the various issues on how to tackle the challenges of getting funding.
The product manager, the entrepreneur and the visionary
Product managers wear many hats and in this episode we talk about how the product manager plays a role similar to an entrepreneur and a visionary.
Managing in these unprecedented times - COVID 19
In these unprecedented times the role of a product manager is as critical as ever. The challenges faced by the PM are extreme. Listen to how PMs can rise to the challenge and drive better outcomes for their organisation and customers.
Origins and thoughts on the evolution of product management and how we got to today
First cast of the product coach a series focusing on building a career in product management and being the most awesome product manager that you could be. The presenter has spend a significant part of his career in product and in this episode the sharing is on how things have changed over the years leading up to today. Some great content is being planned in the coming episodes so do listen in and lend me your ears!