Product Agility

Lean UX Is DEAD! (with Jeff Gothelf)

Feb 6, 2025

Join Jeff Gothelf, a renowned author and product discovery expert, as he discusses why Lean UX is considered 'dead' and what’s taking its place. He emphasizes the importance of shifting from feature delivery to problem-solving and collaboration within teams. Jeff also introduces the Lean Product Canvas as a pivotal tool for aligning business goals with product discovery and enhancing customer impact. He cautions against blindly adopting AI solutions without understanding core problems, urging teams to focus on outcomes over mere outputs.

36:14

Episode guests

Jeff Gothelf

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The evolution of Lean UX emphasizes collaboration beyond design, transforming teams into problem-solving units focused on customer needs.

Shifting from outputs to outcomes enables teams to align product development with real business impacts, fostering continuous improvement and innovation.

Deep dives

Shifting from Features to Problem Solving

Emphasizing the transition from merely delivering features to actively solving problems is a crucial aspect of modern product development. Instead of accepting vague directional prompts like 'build me a mobile app,' teams are encouraged to identify specific problems, such as increasing mobile profitability or enhancing user experience for purchasing furniture. This shift in focus encourages teams to think critically about the outcomes and impacts of their work, ultimately aligning their efforts with genuine customer needs. By embracing this mindset, organizations can foster a culture of continuous improvement and customer-centric innovation.

Intro

2min

Evolving Lean UX and Product Discovery

26min

Connecting Lean Product Canvas with Objectives and Key Results

2min

Integrating Lean Product Canvas with Design Sprints and Future Prospects

2min

Exploring the Lean Product Canvas and Global Training Opportunities

2min

Reflections on Workshops and Effective AI Integration

2min

Send us a text

In this week’s Product Agility Podcast, we’re joined by Jeff Gothelf, author, speaker, and product discovery expert, to explore the evolution of Lean UX and why it’s no longer just about UX. Jeff shares how the Lean Product Canvas has shifted the way teams collaborate, align on business problems, and focus on outcomes over outputs.

With decades of experience in UX, product management, and agile coaching, Jeff reveals why so many teams get stuck in feature factories and how a problem-solving mindset can unlock better products, stronger teams, and more customer impact.

Key Takeaways:

Why Lean UX is "dead"—and what’s replacing it.
The Lean Product Canvas—A practical framework for product discovery and decision-making.
Outcomes over outputs—How to move beyond feature delivery and focus on real business impact.
Product vs. Agile Mindset—Why agile teams need stronger product thinking.
The risk of blindly building AI products—How to avoid the latest hype cycle trap.

Practical Insights:

From UX to cross-functional collaboration: Why this shift matters for teams.
How Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches can apply Lean Product principles.
Avoiding waste: How teams can save millions by validating ideas early.
Using OKRs effectively: How Lean Product discovery naturally aligns with outcome-driven goals.

Quotable Moment:
"You don’t succeed just by delivering features—you succeed when customer behaviour changes."

Links & Resources:
📖 Read Jeff’s latest book: "Who Does What by How Much" - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Does-What-Much-Customer-Centric-ebook/dp/B0CYDH8R71
📚 Explore the Lean Product Canvas: https://jeffgothelf.com/blog/the-lean-product-canvas/
🌐 Learn more about Jeff’s work: https://www.senseandrespond.co/

Are you still focused on feature delivery? Tune in now and let us know how your team defines success! 🚀

Host Bio

Ben is a seasoned expert in product agility coaching, unleashing the potential of people and products. With over a decade of experience, his focus now is product-led growth & agility in organisations of all sizes.

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Ben Maynard

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Product Agility Podcast

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