37. Transparency is key. Communication and context as superpowers for a product development team.

A Product Manager role in a Technology Company, is a Political Role, like or not.

There are lots of negotiations happening all the time. What are we building next? What are we leaving behind? Why? Who gets to decide and how?

There are, however, different ways to go about this.

The good way involves a lot of transparency. Real transparency and context, so everyone knows what we are doing and why.

What are the Company Goals? How does the Company make money? Why is it important to build A instead of B, or vice versa?

My friend Lee Zukor, has built great products, teams, and companies over his 25+ years of experience in Product. He is passionate about solving big, complicated problems in creative new ways. And he has done these things at very large public companies and at very small private ones (including his own startup), in industries that include eCommerce, retail, SaaS, payments, food, youth sports, healthcare, and publishing. 

His key to success? building and supporting high-performing teams that are aligned, empowered, focused, and given the context they need to do their best work. Wherever he is, Lee will lead with trust and transparency. 

And we are lucky enough to have him in our show, so we can learn more about his super powers, through a very relaxed and honest conversation about what it means to be a Product Manager and how to be great at it.

If Product matters to you, invest the time and enjoy. The ROI is well worth it.