Christian sits down with product coach Elias Lieberich to tackle one of the hottest, most overlooked product leadership skills: focus. They unpack why “we have a prioritization problem” is usually a polite way of saying “we don’t have strategy,” what it actually looks like to build alignment, and how to say “not yet” with integrity.

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Today’s episode will discuss:

What focus feels like inside a strong product org
The fastest signal you’re in an unfocused company
Why strategy makes prioritization “implicit”
How to build alignment different functions
The difference between “no” and “not yet”
How teams can create clarity even when leadership hasn’t

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References:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/
ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps
Product Matters: https://productmatters.io/

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More from SVPG on coaching focus:

Product Strategy – Focus (SVPG): https://www.svpg.com/product-strategy-focus/

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Where to find Elias:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieberich/
Product Matters: https://productmatters.io/

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Where to find Christian Idiodi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find SVPG:

SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/
Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/
Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/
Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/
Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos
Podcast: https://producttherapy.com/

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Timestamps:

(01:10) Why is organizational focus so difficult?

(03:16) What a focused organization looks like

(05:34) The ultimate litmus test for focus

(08:52) You don’t have a prioritization problem…

(15:49) The grandfather test

(17:44) The importance of team-wide alignment

(25:31) The one thing high-performing teams have

(28:06) Saying “no” vs. “not yet”

(30:47) How can a leader protect their team’s focus?

(36:13) Why you need a Product FAQ

(40:01) You need to track your business impact

(45:04) Focus is a muscle that needs building

(51:58) Elias’ magic coaching question

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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Production:

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