This Framework Will Change How You Think about Your Career | Shishir Mehrotra (Coda)
Sep 8, 2024
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Shishir Mehrotra, co-founder and CEO of Coda and former Chief Product Officer at YouTube, shares his insights on career growth strategies. He introduces the PSHE framework, emphasizing the value of problem-solving skills over traditional metrics. Shishir also discusses how empathy and collaboration are key in product leadership and highlights the 'WOW' strategy for effective organizational planning. Additionally, he explores the powerful impact of selfless leadership on career advancements, showcasing how mentoring others can lead to collective success.
Shishir Mehrotra advocates for the PSHE framework to assess talent, emphasizing problem-solving over traditional metrics in career growth.
A selfless leadership approach fosters collaboration within teams, prioritizing organizational success and enhancing corporate culture through mentorship.
Efficient strategic planning should only take up 10% of execution time, ensuring focus on actionable outputs and adaptability in organizations.
Deep dives
The Impact of Product Naming
The name given to a product can significantly influence its perception and success in the market. A case in point is the initial name 'skippable ads,' which alienated potential advertisers by implying that their ads could be ignored. Upon renaming it to 'TrueView,' the focus shifted to paying only for ads that were actively viewed, aligning with the interests of advertisers. This rebranding transformed the product from a low priority for the sales team to one of the most sought-after offerings, leading to rapid growth and revenue increase.
Understanding the PSHE Framework
The PSHE framework consists of four components: problem, solution, how, and execution, providing a structured approach to assessing talent and performance in product management. Initially, performance was gauged based on the breadth of responsibility, which often led to dissatisfaction and fragmentation among teams. Shifting focus to the PSHE metric allows for a more nuanced evaluation that promotes ownership and growth opportunities for employees, regardless of their scope or team size. This approach encourages individuals to take initiative in defining problems and identifying solutions, ultimately leading to more effective teams.
Navigating Organizational Politics
In large organizations, the dynamics of solving problems can often lead to territorial disputes or unproductive competition among teams. The key to successfully addressing these situations is to adopt a selfless mindset, prioritizing the company’s success over individual gain. By fostering collaboration and highlighting the collective goals, employees can build a foundation of trust, ultimately enhancing the overall corporate culture. This approach entails actively listening to others and framing discussions to align with organizational objectives rather than personal interests.
Strategic Planning Efficiency
Efficient strategic planning should not monopolize execution time; instead, it should consume no more than 10% of the overall time designated for execution. Adopting a systematic approach to planning, summarized in the WOW model, streamlines the process and avoids prolonged distractions from core activities. Companies should focus on producing actionable outputs while maintaining accountability throughout the execution phases. This balance keeps the strategic goals relevant and aligned with evolving organizational needs, preventing the stagnation that often accompanies excessive planning.
Embracing Selflessness in Leadership
A selfless leadership approach emphasizes the importance of mentoring and nurturing others, which ultimately contributes to a collaborative working environment. Role models who prioritize the success of those they guide foster a culture of support and growth, where individuals feel valued for their contributions. By adopting a 'pay it forward' mentality, leaders can create a ripple effect, inspiring others to act selflessly and thus strengthening team dynamics. This philosophy reveals that true success is not merely individual achievement, but rather the overall progress and success of the entire team.
My guest today is Shishir Mehrotra, co-founder and CEO of Coda.
Shishir is the co-founder and CEO of Coda and was YouTube's Chief Product Officer. We had a great chat about what I think is the best framework to grow your career, how a PM applied it to build a 0 to $1B product in 18 months, and other rituals to level up your strategy and leadership.Brought to you by: - Amplitude: Get their North Star playbook for free: https://bit.ly/4fPxUmg
Timestamps:
(00:00) From 0 to $1B in just 18 months
(01:27) Introducing Shishir
(01:41) The best career growth framework you've never heard of
(03:35) Scope is the wrong metric to evaluate PMs
(07:12) Why PSHE applies to all functions(10:13) Breaking into PM at Google using PSHE
(17:34) Solving obvious problems without stepping on toes
(24:23) The most underrated skill for PMs
(26:16) The WOW framework for strategy and planning
(31:26) The $100 exercise to get teams to think beyond their scope
(35:17) Have you seen small teams move faster?
(37:20) PSHE framework for small vs. large teams
(41:53) Selfless leadership and the trillion-dollar coach
Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-best-framework-for-career-growth-shishir
