How to use conflict to solve product problems - Yorai Gabriel (Author, The Innovators' Drama)

In this week's conversation on The Product Experience podcast, Yorai Gabriel discusses the concept of 'drama' in the context of innovation and product management. He explores how drama arises from tensions and conflicts within teams, particularly in diverse and creative environments. Gabriel highlights the importance of understanding these dynamics to turn drama into a productive force rather than a hindrance.

Key takeaways 

• Communication can escalate tensions and conflict.
• Understanding the roots of drama can help manage it.
• Diversity in teams can lead to creative tensions.
• Drama often arises from people trying to do good.
• Identifying the causes of drama can reduce its intensity.
• Engineers and designers approach problems differently.
• Drama can be an opportunity for learning and growth.
• Misalignments in teams can lead to overwhelming drama.
• Effective communication is key to resolving conflicts.
• Workplace drama can be managed through understanding and communication.
• Graph thinking helps visualize problems for better clarity.
• The fulfillment graph articulates goals and necessary conditions.
• The price of innovation highlights common misalignments.
• Mindfulness towards drama can enhance productivity.
• Effective communication can reduce workplace tensions.
• Visual tools can accelerate conversations and decision-making.
• Understanding the source of drama can lead to better outcomes.
• Embracing different perspectives can foster collaboration.

Chapters 

• 00:00 Introduction to Innovation and Drama
• 00:59 Background and Experience
• 01:56 The Innovator's Drama: Overview and Insights
• 05:06 Understanding Drama in the Workplace
• 08:59 The Nature of Drama: Escalation of Tensions
• 12:03 The Role of Diversity in Drama
• 14:56 Engineering vs. Design: Approaches to Problem Solving
• 20:39

Our Hosts
Lily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She’s currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She’s worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.

Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury’s. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group’s Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He’s the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager’s Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon’s music stores in the US & UK.