115 / How Emotional Intelligence Drives Product Success, with Kate Leto

For years product management’s “hard skills” have gotten much of the spotlight, maybe because they’re easier to get our arms around. But as product management coach and consultant Kate Leto explains, the conversation seems to be shifting toward product leadership’s more elusive collection of “soft skills,” which she refers to as emotional intelligence.

In this episode of Product Momentum, Kate emphasizes the need to develop aptitude around empathy, conflict resolution, resilience, and maintaining a positive attitude. Her first book, Hiring Product Managers: Using Product EQ to go beyond culture and skills, discusses how the human approach to product leadership often makes the difference in individual, team, and product success.

Sharpening our product technique and functional skills remains vital, she explains. “But we need to reframe the narrative and realize that things like emotional intelligence are important skills sets as well.”

All these soft skills come together to form Product EQ, really bringing emotional intelligence front and center into the product community, Kate adds.

Catch the entire episode with Kate Leto, and be sure to listen for her insights on hiring and team building that go beyond the functional proficiency, especially:

• The Role Canvas. A collaborative approach to creating a meaningful role.
• The Product EQ Wheel. A self-reflection exercise designed to help you understand and assess your product EQ.
• Sphere of Influence. Understanding that our ability to truly control behaviors and outcomes is limited.

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