The essence of product management | Christian Idiodi (SVPG)

Name: The essence of product management | Christian Idiodi (SVPG)
Uploaded: 2023-12-21T12:00:31.000Z
Duration: 3 h 6 min 14 s

The Essence of Product Management

In this section, the speaker discusses the essence of product management and the importance of solving problems for customers.

The Real Essence of Product Management

The real essence of product management is waking up on behalf of someone else to solve a problem for them.

The goal is to do it well enough that customers appreciate it and provide something in return, such as revenue, engagement, loyalty, or references.

Fun and Challenge in Product Management

If product management is not fun, then it may not be done right.

Similarly, if it's not challenging, then it may also not be done right.

Introduction to Christian Edot

This section introduces Christian Edot, a partner at Silicon Valley product group. It highlights his experience in product management and his current work with companies.

Christian Edot's Background

Christian Edot is a partner at Silicon Valley product group.

He has had a long career in product management and now focuses on working closely with companies to implement and improve their discipline of product management.

Challenges in Product Management

In this section, the speaker discusses why the field of product management is often disliked and provides advice on how to avoid becoming an unpopular product manager.

Dislike towards Product Managers

There is a trend of people disliking product managers.

Founders sometimes delay hiring their first product manager.

Some teams wish they didn't have a product manager telling them what to do.

Reasons for Dislike towards Product Managers

Many people dislike product managers because they haven't experienced good ones.

Competency-based trust is crucial in product management.

Poor competency leads to misplaced influence and mistrust within organizations.

Coaching Skills in Product Management

This section focuses on coaching skills in product management and how to improve coaching relationships with reports and managers.

Coaching Reports

It is important for product managers to improve their coaching skills.

Effective coaching helps reports grow and develop.

Building trust with reports is crucial for successful coaching relationships.

Receiving Coaching from Managers

Product managers should also seek better coaching from their managers.

Open communication, feedback, and trust are key elements of a productive coaching relationship.

Discovery Methods in Product Management

In this section, the speaker discusses different discovery methods in product management and highlights one favorite go-to method for figuring out what to build.

Importance of Discovery Methods

Discovery methods help determine what to build.

There are various discovery methods available for product managers.

Favorite Go-To Method

Christian Edot shares his favorite go-to method among all the discovery methods.

The specific method is not mentioned in the transcript.

Christian's Work in Africa

This section highlights Christian Edot's work in Africa, where he helps product builders and founders build great companies.

Impactful Work in Africa

Christian Edot is involved in initiatives to support product builders and founders in Africa.

The goal is to help them build successful companies.

Sponsor: Jira Product Discovery

This section introduces Jira Product Discovery as a tool for streamlining product management processes.

Introduction to Jira Product Discovery

Jira Product Discovery is a prioritization and road mapping tool built for product teams by Atlassian.

It allows gathering all product ideas and insights in one place, creating custom roadmaps, and enabling collaboration among team members.

Sponsor: Vanta Security Compliance

This section introduces Vanta as a solution for streamlining security compliance processes.

Introduction to Vanta

Vanta helps companies streamline their security compliance to accelerate growth.

It offers automation and support for various security and privacy frameworks, such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and more.

Interview with Christian Edot

This section begins the interview with Christian Edot.

Introduction to the Interview

Lenny introduces Christian Edot as the guest for the interview.

Marty Kagan described Christian as "the most interesting man in the world."

Sponsor: Vanta (Continued)

This section continues introducing Vanta as a solution for security compliance.

Benefits of Using Vanta

Thousands of fast-growing companies trust Vanta to build, scale, manage, and demonstrate their security and compliance programs.

Vanta helps automate up to 90% of the work involved with security frameworks.

Listeners of Lenny's podcast can get a discount on using Vanta.

Dislike towards Product Managers (Continued)

This section continues discussing why product managers are often disliked and provides insights into becoming a product manager people like.

Lack of Experience with Good Product Managers

Many people dislike product managers because they haven't experienced good ones.

Competency-based trust is crucial in product management.

Building Trust within Teams

Poor competency leads to misplaced influence and mistrust within organizations.

It is important for product managers to build trust by demonstrating expertise in customers, data, industry, business, and the product itself.

Building Trust and Competence in Product Management

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of trust and competence in product management. They explain how senior leaders are trusted to make decisions based on their experience and knowledge of the business. The speaker emphasizes the need for product managers to earn trust by delivering results that align with desired outcomes.

Trust in Senior Leaders

CEOs often trust senior leaders, such as VPs, to make decisions about markets and strategies.

Trust is built based on a senior leader's experience, knowledge, and understanding of the business.

The speaker highlights that having competent individuals like these on every team can greatly enhance productivity.

Perception of Product Management

Some people have a negative perception of product management due to experiences with ineffective product managers.

It is not a hatred towards product management itself but rather a lack of understanding about its potential impact.

The speaker advises product managers to elevate their discipline by delivering results that align with desired outcomes.

Importance of Great Product Managers

Great product managers make everything easier for their teams.

To become a great product manager, one must learn from failures or from experienced product leaders.

Mastery in product management requires practice and embracing elements that contribute to success.

Building Trust and Relationships

Product managers should seek out influential individuals within their organization who possess deep knowledge and influence.

By learning from these individuals and offering assistance, product managers can build relationships and gain trust.

Continuous learning and discovery help establish credibility as others recognize the insights and data acquired through this process.

Attributes of a Product Manager's Job

In this section, the speaker discusses four attributes that define a product manager's job: working as part of a team, uncovering solutions while managing inherent risks (value, usability, feasibility, viability), driving value creation, and ensuring business viability.

Team Collaboration and Risk Management

Product managers work as part of a team to uncover solutions and address problems.

They manage inherent risks related to value, usability, feasibility, and viability when solving problems.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of driving value creation and ensuring business viability.

Conclusion

Product management requires building trust, demonstrating competence, continuous learning, and collaborating effectively within a team. By understanding the role's attributes and focusing on delivering results aligned with desired outcomes, product managers can become more successful and respected in their organizations.

The Role of a Product Manager

In this section, the speaker discusses the role of a product manager and emphasizes the importance of working on something that people want.

The Importance of Working on Something People Want

Blame is often placed on product managers because they are held accountable for delivering results.

The job of a product manager is to ensure that they are working on something that people actually want.

The role of a product manager is to wake up on behalf of someone else and solve a problem for them.

Solving problems for customers in a way that they love leads to appreciation in the form of revenue, engagement, loyalty, and references.

Four Elements for Building Successful Products

This section highlights the four elements necessary for building successful products: value, usability, viability, and feasibility.

Value as the Most Important Element

Value is often overlooked but it is the most important element when building products.

Many teams focus on roadmaps and features without considering if there is actual value in what they are building.

Product managers play a leadership role by answering the question of whether something should be built in the first place.

Assessing Value, Usability, Viability, and Feasibility

This section discusses the four risks that need to be addressed when assessing value, usability, viability, and feasibility: should we build it? will people use it? will people buy it? will our business support it?

Importance of Addressing Value

Value is often the hardest element to solve but also frequently overlooked.

Companies may assume value if projects or features are assigned through roadmaps without questioning their worth.

Product managers play a crucial role in determining if something has value before investing time and resources into it.

The Challenge of Value

This section further emphasizes the importance of value and how it is often misunderstood or disregarded.

Value as the Ultimate Outcome

Value is the ultimate outcome that product managers strive for.

Simply because someone can use a product doesn't mean they will buy it or choose it over alternatives.

Product managers need to focus on solving problems in a meaningful way that customers love, rather than just checking off items on a roadmap.

The Holy Grail of Product Work: Reference Customers

This section discusses the concept of reference customers and their significance in product development.

Importance of Reference Customers

Reference customers are those who have used a product and love it enough to recommend it to others.

The work of a product team is to solve problems in a way that customers love and that aligns with business goals.

Founders often become their own first reference customer by solving their own problem and realizing there may be more people like them who would benefit from the solution.

The Love for a Product

This section explores the idea of love for a product and how it is demonstrated through positive reviews and recommendations.

Putting Reputation on the Line

The ultimate definition of love for a product is when someone is willing to put their reputation on the line by recommending it.

Positive reviews from multiple customers indicate greater trustworthiness and desirability of a product.

The Essence of the Technique: Creating Reference Customers

The technique discussed in this section focuses on creating reference customers as the foundation for building successful products and solving real problems.

Importance of Creating Reference Customers

Companies often start with a product-centric approach, but to shift towards sales or operations, they need to create reference customers.

Product teams lose influence when salespeople have to sell a product without powerful reference customers.

Sales become easier when there are existing customers who resemble potential buyers and recommend the product.

Discovering and Delivering Solutions

To effectively solve a problem, it is crucial to get out of the building and spend time with someone who has that problem.

Immersing oneself in the environment of the problem helps in discovering and delivering solutions.

The technique emphasizes staying with the customer until a solution is found.

Benefits of Creating Reference Customers

By creating powerful reference customers, product teams ensure their influence within an organization.

This technique minimizes the risk of product failure by validating the problem's existence before investing resources.

Having worked on numerous products, the speaker credits this technique for never experiencing a product failure.

Finding Problem-Solution Fit through Reference Customers

This section delves deeper into finding problem-solution fit by leveraging reference customers. It discusses recommended numbers of reference customers based on B2B and B2C contexts.

Recommended Number of Reference Customers

In B2B (business-to-business) scenarios, aim for six to eight reference customers.

In B2C (business-to-consumer) scenarios, aim for 15 to 25 reference customers.

These numbers are based on studies conducted by companies like IBM to validate their effectiveness.

Building Confidence in Potential Buyers

Potential buyers often look for evidence that others facing similar challenges have already adopted a solution.

Having a sufficient number of reference customers builds confidence in potential buyers to make the argument for adopting the product.

Validation in B2C Context

In the B2C context, validation can be observed through app stores like Yelp.

A steakhouse with 25 five-star reviews is more likely to attract customers compared to one without any reviews.

The speaker follows this approach by ensuring 25 five-star reviews on the day of launching an app.

Summary and Conclusion

This section provides a summary of the key points discussed throughout the transcript.

Effective Approach for Building Desired Products

The technique of creating reference customers is an effective way to build products that solve real problems and meet customer needs.

Reference customers not only help in building the initial product but also become references for future customers.

Importance of Sufficient Reference Customers

Having a recommended number of reference customers ensures that the problem being solved is not unique to just a few individuals.

It increases the likelihood of broader market acceptance and success.

Personal Experience and Success Rate

The speaker shares their personal experience of working on over 205 products using this technique, without experiencing any product failures.

They emphasize practicing this approach every year by identifying new problems to solve and building products around them.

Timestamps are provided at relevant sections within each chapter.

Understanding Product Market Fit

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of product-market fit and how to determine if a product has achieved it.

How to Determine Product-Market Fit

Product-market fit is achieved when there are 25 reference customers who are satisfied with the product.

When customers are willing to leave positive reviews and testimonials, it indicates that the product has achieved product-market fit.

The early adopters of a product can be categorized into technologists and evangelists.

Technologists are individuals who love new technology and are excited about its features.

Evangelists are people who believe they have a problem and eagerly adopt new solutions.

Validating the Problem and Target Customers

To achieve product-market fit, it is important to validate that the problem being solved is real and that there is a specific target audience for the solution.

Early adopters play a crucial role in validating the problem and providing feedback on the solution.

The goal is to find 25 people who represent the target audience and continuously iterate based on their feedback.

Building Customer Relationships

Building strong relationships with customers is essential for achieving product-market fit.

Engaging with customers, listening to their feedback, and involving them in the development process helps create a better product.

Iterating based on customer feedback leads to continuous improvement until customers consider it as "the best" in its category.

Marketing Based on Customer Feedback

Marketing messages should be based on what customers actually say about the product rather than assumptions made by marketers.

By incorporating customer feedback into marketing materials, expectations can be aligned with reality, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

Benefits of Achieving Product-Market Fit

Achieving product-market fit early on allows for risk mitigation and involvement of various departments within the organization, such as marketing, sales, legal, and finance.

By involving customers in the development process, companies can learn how to effectively sell and market their product based on real customer insights.

The Importance of Customer References

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the significance of customer references in achieving product-market fit.

Customer References as Indicators of Product-Market Fit

Customer references serve as a strong indicator that a product has achieved product-market fit.

When customers are willing to put their reputation on the line by being a reference for a product, it demonstrates their satisfaction and belief in its value.

Avoiding Superficial Feedback

Superficial feedback can be misleading when determining if a product has achieved product-market fit.

Customers may provide positive feedback just to be polite or avoid hurting feelings.

Deeper feedback is obtained by building strong relationships with customers and immersing oneself in understanding their problems.

Iterative Discovery Process

Product-market fit is achieved through an iterative discovery process.

Continuous iteration based on customer feedback helps discover and deliver meaningful solutions that resonate with target customers.

Marketing Based on Real Customer Insights

Marketing messages should be derived from real customer insights rather than assumptions made by marketers.

By asking customers how they would describe the product or service, marketers can align marketing materials with customer expectations.

Learning to Sell and Market Effectively

By involving customers in the development process and incorporating their feedback into marketing strategies, companies can learn how to effectively sell and market their products or services.

Finding Product-Market Fit

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of finding product-market fit and how recruiting plays a crucial role in identifying customers who have a problem and are willing to explore a solution.

Importance of Recruiting

The speaker emphasizes that if they can't find enough people who love their product, it indicates a lack of product-market fit.

Recruiting is seen as a signal to identify people who have the problem and care about solving it.

One Solution for Many People

It is important for the solution to address the needs of many people rather than being tailored to individual preferences.

All potential customers should want the same features or benefits for the solution to be viable.

Social Influence and References

Social influence plays a significant role in convincing people to choose a particular product or solution.

References from satisfied customers act as powerful endorsements, influencing others' decisions.

Example of Problem Solving through Customer Collaboration

The speaker shares an example from their experience at a staffing company where they collaborated with a customer to solve a specific problem. This example highlights the importance of defining and validating problems through customer interaction.

Solving an Undocumented Workers Issue

The speaker receives a call from the head of global staffing at Starbucks regarding an issue with undocumented workers during an acquisition process.

They propose solving this problem and ask for funding from Starbucks.

Defining the Problem

The first step is to define the problem by understanding its scope and impact on business operations.

In this case, hiring 800 employees quickly becomes crucial due to potential paperwork issues.

Validating the Problem

To validate if other companies face similar challenges, they visit different locations such as construction sites and malls.

Conversations with managers at McDonald's and Macy's confirm the need to hire a large number of employees quickly for new store openings or seasonal demands.

Identifying Solutions through Customer Interaction

The speaker continues discussing their problem-solving process by highlighting the importance of customer interaction in identifying potential solutions.

Collaborative Problem-Solving

The speaker emphasizes the collaborative nature of problem-solving, involving team members from different roles such as designers and engineers.

Defining the problem and brainstorming potential solutions are key steps in this process.

Identifying Hiring Needs

Through conversations with various businesses, they identify that hiring needs during specific events or circumstances can be a common problem.

Examples include new store openings or seasonal demands in retail.

Validating Problems with Customers

By engaging with customers directly, they validate that other companies face similar challenges and require quick hiring solutions.

This customer interaction helps shape the direction of their product development efforts.

McDonald's Hiring Process

The speaker discusses their experience with helping McDonald's improve their hiring process.

Sending People to Interview

The speaker suggests sending people for interviews as a solution.

They propose that if McDonald's likes the candidates, they can hire them.

Payment for this service is discussed.

Initial Challenges

The speaker and their team had no prior knowledge of how to find job candidates for McDonald's.

They tried various techniques such as posting on Craigslist and putting up flyers.

Despite getting 40 interested candidates, very few showed up for interviews.

Understanding the Industry

The manager explains that in the fast-food industry, many candidates do not show up for interviews.

Employees often leave for slightly better pay or a location closer to home.

Scaling Up Efforts

To solve the problem, the speaker realizes they need to send a larger number of candidates.

They decide to double down on their efforts and call back those who didn't show up previously.

After refining their approach, they manage to hire around 45 to 50 people.

Starbucks Hiring Process

The speaker shares their experience with improving Starbucks' hiring process.

Proposing a Solution

The speaker suggests sending around 3,000 people for interviews at Starbucks.

They explain that many candidates don't show up for interviews in this industry as well.

Recruiting Efforts

Without any software or technology, the team manually recruits using spreadsheets and phone calls.

In one week, they successfully hire 784 people at Starbucks.

Los Angeles International Airport Hiring Process

The speaker talks about their experience with helping Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) improve their hiring process.

Matching Demographics

LAX requires employees to match the demographics of the travelers.

The speaker faces challenges in recruiting candidates who speak specific languages.

Difficulties in Hiring

Many job seekers do not want to work at an airport due to early morning shifts and security procedures.

Despite efforts to recruit, only a small number of candidates show up for interviews.

Expanding Solutions

The speaker discusses their approach to expanding their solutions beyond McDonald's and Starbucks.

Seeking More Problems

The speaker reaches out to the head of marketing and sales to identify other companies facing similar hiring challenges.

They aim to uncover scalable and reliable solutions that work for different businesses.

Los Angeles International Airport Opportunity

LAX presents an opportunity as they need 200 people for their new terminal.

However, matching employee demographics becomes a challenge again.

Conclusion

The speaker highlights their journey of helping McDonald's, Starbucks, and Los Angeles International Airport improve their hiring processes. They emphasize the need for scalable solutions that address industry-specific challenges.

Doing Things That Don't Scale - Summary

In this section, the speaker discusses their experience of working with McDonald's and Starbucks to solve hiring problems using technology. They emphasize the importance of involving engineers and designers from the beginning to improve the end-to-end experience. The success of their product in generating millions in sales is attributed to understanding and solving real-world problems.

Using Technology to Improve Hiring Processes

The speaker reached out to MES (McDonald's) during the holiday season and started working with them to improve their hiring processes.

Engineers focused on using technology to enhance the overall experience, while designers worked on creating a seamless recruiter and job seeker journey.

Various features were developed, such as a recruitment funnel, scaling interview tools, notifications, and maps for directions.

By being involved in defining the problem and immersed in finding solutions, it took around eight and a half months to build the product.

Success Stories: McDonald's and Starbucks

Upon launching the product, it generated $32 million in sales within its first 90 days.

McDonald's used this product for opening new stores, while Starbucks utilized it during their global expansion.

The product proved effective for high-volume hiring needs at events like NASCAR.

Doing Things That Don't Scale

The speaker highlights that they focused on solving specific problems for McDonald's and Starbucks employees rather than aiming for scalability.

They emphasize that discovering how to solve problems that don't scale can be powerful when combined with technology's ability to scale solutions.

Learning by Solving Problems

The speaker emphasizes that there was no reliance on traditional research methods like fake door tests or user interviews.

Instead, they believe that actively trying to solve a problem provides valuable insights through research, failures, mistakes, evidence gathering, validation testing, and understanding user behavior.

Solving the problem itself becomes the clearest indication of success.

Coaching and Building Trust - Summary

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of coaching and building trust as a leader. They highlight how corporate structures often fail in creating high-performance teams and emphasize the role of leadership in coaching. The speaker shares insights on what makes a great coach and provides advice for improving coaching skills.

The Role of Leadership and Coaching

The speaker believes that corporate structures often fail to create high-performance teams due to inadequate leadership.

Leadership involves providing context, defining culture, organizing efforts, and recognizing the importance of people working together towards desired outcomes.

Coaching is seen as a key component of effective leadership.

Secrets to Being a Great Coach

The speaker's secret to being a great coach lies in building trust with executives and product leaders faster than anyone else.

They are highly regarded by those they coach, even being considered like a rockstar by some CEOs.

The speaker emphasizes that coaching should focus on understanding context, culture, outcomes, and fostering collaboration among team members.

Becoming Better Coaches

To become better coaches, individuals should recognize the importance of coaching as part of their leadership role.

Developing strong relationships based on trust is crucial for effective coaching.

Leaders should prioritize understanding their team members' needs, providing guidance and support tailored to individual growth.

Timestamps have been associated with relevant bullet points throughout the summary.

The Role of Coaching in Management

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of coaching in management and draws parallels to sports teams having coaches. They explain that while product management is a product manager's job, getting better at product management is the manager's job.

Coaching as a Manager's Job

Managers have a day job of coaching their team members to help them improve.

High-performing teams in various fields, such as sports, have coaches who focus on helping individuals become better at their roles.

The misconception arises when people fail to understand that while doing product management is a product manager's job, improving at product management is the manager's responsibility.

The Challenge of Providing Good Coaching

This section explores why many people struggle to provide effective coaching. The speaker highlights the lack of personal experience with good coaching as a significant factor.

Lack of Personal Experience with Good Coaching

Many individuals struggle to provide good coaching because they have never experienced it themselves.

People often find it challenging to give others what they haven't received or witnessed themselves.

Personal experiences shape one's understanding and approach towards coaching.

Understanding Different Communication Styles

Here, the speaker shares an anecdote about an executive meeting where a CEO displayed aggressive communication. They emphasize the importance of understanding different communication styles and finding alternative ways to communicate effectively.

Alternative Communication Styles

A CEO in an executive meeting starts screaming and cursing at everyone, which prompts the speaker to address this behavior privately.

The CEO explains that he was treated similarly by his boss and believes it worked for him, assuming his team can handle it too.

The speaker offers an alternative way of communicating and asks for permission to discuss it with the team openly.

After presenting both approaches, the team expresses that the alternative communication style provided more clarity and actionable insights.

This experience highlights the need for individuals to see effective alternatives before they can adopt them.

The Power of Coaching and Personal Experience

The speaker reflects on their own coaching experiences with their children's soccer team and emphasizes the importance of trust, competence, and learning in coaching.

Coaching Children's Soccer Team

The speaker coached their children's soccer team for several years, focusing on strategy and treating four-year-olds like adults.

They realized that companies cannot care for people; instead, it is individuals who care for others.

Leaders play a crucial role in setting the standards and behaviors within an organization.

Trust is a fundamental aspect of coaching, built upon competence and character.

Many corporate environments prioritize competence over other values like communication or care when promoting employees.

Learning to Seek Understanding

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of humility, ego management, accountability, and trust-building through learning.

Importance of Humility and Learning

Individuals should prioritize seeking understanding before expecting others to understand them.

Humility allows for growth by acknowledging what one doesn't know.

Ego should be managed effectively as it can hinder personal development.

Building trust often involves holding oneself accountable for outcomes and being open to learning from others.

Accelerating Trust Through Learning

The speaker explains how accelerating trust can be achieved by encouraging others to teach or share knowledge.

Accelerating Trust Through Teaching

To accelerate trust-building through learning, one can ask others to teach or explain concepts.

This approach taps into emotional intelligence techniques by empowering individuals with knowledge-sharing responsibilities.

Identifying influential figures in an environment helps understand power dynamics based on competence rather than just titles.

Competence and Trust in Leadership

The speaker emphasizes the connection between competence, trust, and leadership roles within organizations.

Competence and Trust in Leadership

Power dynamics within an organization are not solely based on titles but also on demonstrated competence.

Competence can lead to the establishment of trust, particularly in corporate environments where competency is highly valued.

Communication and care may be overlooked if an individual demonstrates exceptional competence in their role.

Building Trust and Relationships in the Workplace

In this section, the speaker discusses a technique for building trust and relationships in the workplace by leveraging influential individuals.

Leveraging Influential Individuals to Build Trust

When wanting to build trust with a new hire, take them to the most influential person in the company.

Introduce the new hire as someone who is eager to learn and ask the influential person to teach them.

By spending time with an influential person, others in the company will perceive a connection between the new hire and that influential individual.

This technique accelerates relationships and trust within the company.

Finding Opportunities for Coaching and Improvement

The speaker provides advice on finding coaching opportunities when there is no direct access to a coach or manager.

Creating Practice Arenas

Companies often fail to create space for practice, which hinders improvement.

To improve without direct coaching, find practice arenas where collaborative problem-solving occurs.

Join pickup games or volunteer at non-profit organizations or community events where you can observe and learn from others' problem-solving skills.

Observing good coaching practices leads to better outcomes and performance.

Getting Into Product Management

The speaker shares advice on how to get into product management by focusing on collaborative problem-solving opportunities.

Collaborative Problem-Solving as Key

To get into product management, seek out opportunities for collaborative problem-solving.

Look for environments where people work together to solve problems effectively.

Observing good product work helps develop your own skills in product management.

Seek out high-performance environments with winning teams as indicators of good coaching and successful outcomes.

The Importance of Knowledge and Learning

This section emphasizes the value of individuals who possess knowledge, insights, and a willingness to learn. It discusses the challenge of finding such individuals and highlights the importance of continuous learning in professional growth.

The Value of Knowledge and Insight

Individuals who have experience in problem-solving, data analysis, and effective communication are highly valuable.

Finding employees with these skills can be challenging for companies.

Those who have learned from their experiences and continuously seek knowledge are often the most trustworthy and helpful.

Promotions and Readiness

Many leaders get promoted too early without being adequately prepared for their new roles.

Some blame others when they struggle in their new positions instead of recognizing their own lack of readiness.

It is important for individuals in such positions to understand why they were promoted prematurely.

The Pitfalls of Early Promotions

When someone excels in a specific role, they may be promoted to a managerial position without having prior experience or training as a manager.

This transition can lead to feelings of stagnation or lack of recognition.

Managers must shift from directly solving problems to building teams that excel at problem-solving.

Micromanagement and Lack of Training

Micromanagement often stems from individuals who excel in their previous roles but lack the necessary skills for management positions.

Leaders feel pressured to always have answers and avoid admitting uncertainty or seeking help.

Dysfunctional cultures arise when everyone adopts different approaches without clear guidance.

Coaching for Management Roles

Proper coaching is essential before promoting someone into a managerial position.

Employees should be given opportunities to practice managerial tasks before officially assuming those responsibilities.

Learning how to perform tasks while not holding the corresponding title allows for growth and feedback.

Group Roles as Decision-Making Opportunities

Group roles, such as group product managers, can serve as a testing ground for individuals considering managerial positions.

These roles allow individuals to determine if they are suited for management or prefer to remain in their discipline.

It is important not to overload individuals with direct reports before they have proven their ability to manage effectively.

The Cycle of Incompetence in Promotions

This section discusses the common cycle of incompetence that occurs when individuals are promoted without proper training or experience. It highlights the need for practical experience and feedback before assuming higher-level positions.

The Problem with Promotions

Promoting someone into a new role without providing adequate training or support often leads to incompetence.

Individuals may feel pressured to perform tasks they have never done before, leading to insecurity and potential mistakes.

Learning on the Job

The best time to learn how to perform tasks associated with a higher-level position is before actually being promoted.

Practical experience and feedback obtained prior to promotion help build confidence and competence.

Overcoming Incompetence

Rather than pretending to know everything, leaders should be comfortable admitting when they don't know something or need assistance.

A culture that expects leaders to have all the answers hinders growth and development.

Embracing Feedback and Learning Opportunities

Leaders should actively seek feedback, observe others in similar roles, and ask questions.

Learning from experienced professionals helps develop the necessary skills for higher-level positions.

Avoiding Micromanagement

Proper coaching and preparation prevent micromanagement tendencies caused by lack of confidence or knowledge.

Managers who understand their role as facilitators rather than problem solvers create more effective teams.

Building Competent Leaders

Providing opportunities for employees to practice tasks associated with higher-level positions allows them to gain valuable experience.

By learning from mistakes and receiving feedback early on, individuals become better prepared for future promotions.

The Importance of Leadership Development Before Promotion

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the need for individuals to practice leadership before being promoted to leadership positions. They discuss the importance of coaching programs and succession planning in developing future leaders.

Developing Leaders Before Promotion

It is crucial to have good coaching programs for leaders before promoting them.

Succession planning should involve training individuals in management and leadership skills before they assume leadership roles.

Waiting until it's time to promote someone and then teaching them management or leadership can lead to inefficiencies.

Benefits of Preparing Leaders Early

Practicing leadership skills before becoming a leader allows individuals to gain experience and develop necessary competencies.

By already performing VP-level tasks, individuals become familiar with the responsibilities and expectations of higher positions.

Making mistakes while not in a leadership role is less impactful compared to making mistakes as a VP.

Providing Opportunities for Growth

Companies should offer opportunities for employees to train and practice their skills before assuming higher positions.

Humility and self-awareness are essential qualities for recognizing the need for improvement as a leader.

Coaching, rather than outsourcing, is an effective way to enhance leadership abilities.

The Best Time to Learn Leadership Skills

This section discusses why it is crucial to learn leadership skills before entering a specific role. The speaker highlights the importance of gaining experience and practicing good leadership early on.

Learning Leadership Skills Before Assuming Roles

The best time to learn essential skills is before entering a particular position or role.

Companies should provide resources and support for leaders' development even before they officially hold those positions.

Learning from experienced coaches and mentors helps individuals understand what makes good leadership.

Safe Environment for Skill Development

When not in a specific role, individuals have the opportunity to make mistakes without severe consequences.

Mistakes made by non-leaders are seen as learning opportunities rather than failures.

Creating a safe space for practice and providing constructive feedback are crucial aspects of coaching.

Training and Coaching Leaders

This section focuses on how companies can help leaders improve their skills through training and coaching. The speaker emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience and learning from experienced coaches.

Recognizing the Need for Improvement

Leaders must have humility and self-awareness to acknowledge areas where they need to improve.

Experiencing good leadership firsthand is essential for developing effective leadership skills.

Many leaders tend to outsource coaching or rely on external training, but this approach may not be as effective.

Importance of Hands-On Experience

Taking a communication class alone does not guarantee improved communication skills.

Leaders should actively practice communication with their employees in a safe environment.

Providing feedback and guidance helps leaders develop better communication techniques.

Coaching Techniques for Leaders

Many leaders lack the necessary tools and techniques for effective coaching.

Teaching leaders how to coach others can address various product-related challenges.

Coaching should focus on generating positive outcomes based on previous successful experiences.

The Role of Managers as Coaches

This section highlights the role of managers as coaches in helping their reports grow. It also discusses finding excellent coaches and the importance of learning from experienced professionals.

Managers as Coaches

Managers play a crucial role in coaching their team members for growth and development.

Being an effective coach requires specific methods that can be learned through one-on-one sessions with experienced professionals.

Finding Excellent Coaches

Look for coaches who have generated positive outcomes in their own careers.

A good coach has both practical experience and has learned from other successful coaches.

A strong pedigree, including experience at reputable companies and learning from skilled coaches, is essential.

Introducing Product and Technology in Developing Countries

This section focuses on the speaker's work in Africa and the challenges faced when introducing product and technology in developing countries.

Background and False Notions

The speaker has an African background and spends a significant amount of time working in Africa.

Initially, there was a misconception that problems solved in developed markets were also solved in developing countries.

Opportunities and Challenges

Introducing product and technology into developing countries presents both opportunities and challenges.

The speaker is considered an expert in this field due to their experience working with these communities.

Learning from successful outcomes and understanding local cultures are crucial for effective implementation.

The Challenges and Opportunities in African Markets

In this section, the speaker discusses the challenges and opportunities in African markets, particularly focusing on the poor use of technology and difficulty in solving problems. They highlight the importance of government infrastructure and architecture, as well as the need for power and access to technology before problem-solving can occur.

Challenges in African Markets

Poor use of technology and enabling technologies hinder problem-solving.

Difficulty in solving problems due to lack of infrastructure and architecture.

Power shortage is a major obstacle for coding and accessing computers.

Multiple problems need to be solved before addressing the main issue.

Opportunities in African Markets

Africa has a talented population with creative individuals.

Despite limited internet access, Africa has created seven unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion).

Youngest population with fast-growing economies presents immense opportunities.

Basic problems exist, creating potential for impactful solutions.

Empowering Africa through Technology

In this section, the speaker discusses their efforts to empower Africa through technology. They emphasize the importance of education, enablement with technology, and organizing conferences to foster learning. The goal is to create a boldness within the continent to solve problems using technology.

Initiatives for Empowerment

Started a nonprofit organization called Innovate Africa Foundation.

Focuses on educating people on the continent and enabling them with tech skills.

Organized Inspire Africa conference to promote product work and problem-solving using technology.

Witnessed enthusiasm from participants, including young individuals interested in robotics and startups.

Coaching and Advising

Spends time coaching, advising, and teaching teams how to use technology effectively.

Encourages product-centric thinking among teams in order to solve problems efficiently.

Future Plans

Launching the Innovate Africa Fund, an angel investment fund, in January.

Aims to support startups in achieving product-market fit and avoid premature institutional investment.

Promotes a community-driven approach to enable problem-solving through technology.

Making a Dent in the World with Product Work

In this section, the speaker shares their perspective on the impact of product work. They emphasize the importance of solving problems and creating value in the world. The speaker encourages individuals in the product community to have a broader understanding of their role beyond just managing products.

Impact of Product Work

Solving problems creates value and makes a dent in the world.

Encourages individuals in the product community to see themselves as problem solvers.

Highlights the significance of creating value through problem-solving efforts.

The Importance of Empathy and Customer Centricity in Work

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the significance of bringing a different sense of empathy and customer centricity to work, which leads to positive outcomes.

Differentiating Factors for Good Outcomes

Employees should bring a different passion, empathy, and customer centricity to their work.

These qualities contribute to achieving good outcomes.

The speaker appeals to individuals to think deeply about their goals and intentions.

Building Something People Care About

This section highlights the importance of caring enough about a problem to solve it on someone's behalf. It also emphasizes that building something people care about results in reciprocal benefits.

Building Solutions People Care About

Building something people care about requires solving problems on someone's behalf.

By doing so exceptionally well, individuals receive something valuable in return.

One way people show they care is by spreading the word about a product or service.

Lightning Round - Book Recommendations

In this lightning round segment, the speaker shares book recommendations related to product work.

Recommended Books for Product Work

The speaker recommends all of their books inspired by decades of love and passion for product work.

They mention "Inspired," "Empowered," and an upcoming book called "Transformed" (to be released in March).

Other recommended books include "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz.

Introduction to "Transformed"

The speaker provides an overview of their upcoming book, "Transformed," set to be released in March.

About "Transformed"

"Transformed" is a reflection of the speaker's love and passion for product work.

It shares stories of companies that have successfully transformed into the product operating model.

The book aims to inspire companies to adopt a better way of working and problem-solving, regardless of their current stage in the journey.

Favorite Movie or TV Show

In this lightning round segment, the speaker discusses their favorite recent movie or TV show.

Favorite Movie/TV Show

The speaker mentions being on the "Succession" bandwagon and enjoying it.

They also express appreciation for "Billions" due to its good writing and intellectual nature.

Favorite Interview Question

The speaker shares their favorite interview question when assessing candidates.

Preferred Interview Question

The speaker's favorite question involves presenting a unique problem for candidates to solve.

An example scenario given is about helping someone with impaired hearing wake up on time for a new job.

This question allows the interviewer to assess problem-solving skills, thinking process, and ability to seek knowledge when faced with unfamiliar situations.

Assessing Problem-Solving Approaches in Interviews

The speaker explains how they evaluate candidates' problem-solving approaches during interviews.

Evaluating Problem-Solving Approaches

Intellectual curiosity is valued in candidates' responses.

Collaborative problem solving is preferred over individuals trying to solve everything themselves without evidence or data.

Candidates who acknowledge the need for collaboration with engineers and designers are looked upon favorably.

Intellectual humility, adaptability, and openness to learning are important qualities sought in candidates.

Significance of Collaboration and Humility in Product Management

The speaker discusses the importance of collaboration, empathy, and humility in product management.

Key Qualities for Product Managers

Collaborative problem solving is essential for effective product management.

Intellectual curiosity and asking insightful questions are positive indicators.

Candidates who demonstrate a willingness to seek help and acknowledge their limitations are preferred over those who rely on rigid frameworks or exhibit arrogance.

Arrogance and ego can disrupt team culture.

Favorite Recent Discovery - Real Sports App

The speaker shares their favorite recent discovery, a sports app called "Real Sports."

Favorite Recent Discovery

The speaker's eldest son introduced them to the "Real Sports" app.

This app caters to sports enthusiasts and offers various features related to different sports.

The Unique Way of Checking Scores

In this section, the speaker discusses a unique way of checking scores and sharing reactions with people around the world who care about their favorite team scoring a touchdown.

Checking Scores and Sharing Reactions

People can check scores in a different way by sharing their reactions with others.

The speaker finds it thoughtful to be able to share their reaction to a touchdown with 50 people around the world who care about their favorite team.

This method allows for simultaneous sharing of reactions, where the first person who sees it can see everyone's reaction at the same time.

Favorite Life Motto

In this section, the speaker talks about their favorite life motto and shares some useful advice they have received from their father.

Favorite Life Motto

The speaker mentions that they have talked a lot about how companies don't care about individuals, but people do care about each other.

They also believe that it is never too late to become what you want to be.

The speaker's father always told them to "show up" as a valuable piece of advice.

Showing up on time puts you ahead of 85% of people in the free world, while showing up on time with a plan puts you ahead of 90%.

Taking action with a smile increases your chances of success in every aspect of life.

Survival and Success

In this section, the speaker reflects on an important period in their life when they had to survive on their own in challenging circumstances.

Survival and Success

The speaker shares that between the ages of 12 and 16, they were on their own in the middle of the jungle, with no water, electricity, or civilization nearby.

They had to learn to generate their own power and get water themselves.

This experience shaped their worldview and taught them the importance of showing up, having a plan, and taking action with a smile.

The speaker believes that consistently applying these principles in every aspect of life can lead to successful outcomes.

Surprising Facts

In this section, the speaker reveals a surprising fact about themselves and talks about their background.

Surprising Fact

The speaker attended a gifted and talented school and left home at the age of 12.

They went to a remote location in the middle of nowhere, where there was no access to basic amenities like water or electricity.

This experience of surviving on their own in the jungle from 12 to 16 years old was an intriguing part of their life.

Nigerian Food Recommendations

In this section, the speaker shares their favorite Nigerian food and recommends some dishes for people who want to try Nigerian cuisine.

Nigerian Food Recommendations

The speaker's favorite Nigerian meal is starch and Oha soup, which is a cultural and native dish that may not be easily found elsewhere.

For those discovering Nigerian food, they suggest starting with variations of rice such as Jollof rice.

Another recommendation is trying "swallow" dishes like pounded yam or cassava eaten with different types of soups.

Connecting Online and Supporting Work

In this section, the speaker provides information on how to connect with them online and how listeners can support their work.

Connecting Online and Supporting Work

The speaker can be found on LinkedIn. Their website is svpg.com.

The best way to be useful to them is by doing good work using the principles they teach and caring about outcomes and good product work in the world.

They also appreciate support for their work in Africa, particularly in building the product community. The website for their nonprofit organization is innovateafricafoundation.org.

Conclusion and Call to Action

In this section, the speaker concludes the podcast episode and encourages listeners to subscribe, rate, and review the show. They also provide information on where to find past episodes.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the podcast on platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Leaving a rating or review helps other listeners discover the podcast.

All past episodes can be found on Lennypodcast.com.

Timestamps have been associated with bullet points as requested.