Send us a textIn this episode of the Product Agility Podcast, host Ben Maynard shares a practical approach to helping people grow beyond their job titles—an approach that improves collaboration, accelerates delivery, and supports meaningful development without adding unnecessary bureaucracy. At the centre of the conversation is the concept of a “Market of Skills.”Originally introduced by Lisa Adkins in Coaching Agile Teams, the Market of Skills encourages individuals to share the skills they have and the ones they want to develop, making capability visible and growth more intentional. While rooted in Agile, this method has proven valuable across departments—from product and design to leadership and operations.Ben reflects on recent experiences facilitating this approach and offers guidance on how to bring it into your own team in a way that feels natural, human, and impactful.Topics include:Why focusing on roles limits potential and skills-based thinking broadens itHow to create space for peer-to-peer learning and reduce costly dependenciesThe benefits of visible, self-directed development over formal training platformsHow to introduce a Market of Skills without overwhelming your teamsWhat leaders can do to support learning cultures that actually support performanceWhether you're a CPO, Agile coach, product manager or people leader, this episode provides an actionable, people-first perspective on growing capability in modern product organisations.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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

Send us a textIn this episode of the Product Agility Podcast, host Ben Maynard explores the role of leading and lagging metrics in product strategy, OKRs, and business impact. Many teams rely on lagging metrics to measure success, but when the results are in, it’s often too late to make meaningful changes. Leading metrics provide an opportunity to adjust course earlier, yet they are frequently misunderstood or overlooked.This episode examines the difference between leading and lagging metrics, why both are essential and how they can be effectively integrated into OKRs to ensure they act as a steering tool rather than just a report card. Ben also discusses the Kellogg Change Model, a framework that helps teams without direct customer impact measure meaningful success.Topics include:Why lagging metrics alone can lead to missed opportunitiesHow leading metrics provide early indicators of successThe connection between strategy, tactics, and measurementThe Kellogg Change Model and how it applies to internal teamsPractical ways to use metrics for learning and adaptation rather than just reportingWhether you are a product manager, an agile coach, or a leader looking to improve strategic decision-making, this episode offers insights into how to measure success more effectively and avoid common pitfalls when setting objectives and key results.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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

Send us a textIn this week’s episode of the Product Agility Podcast, Ben is joined by Jim Kalbach, an expert in design, innovation, and the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework. Together, they tackle one of the biggest blind spots in product development—our over-reliance on user stories and how shifting our focus to customer jobs can unlock real value.This episode also marks the start of Season 3, and we’re excited to continue bringing you insightful conversations that bridge the gap between agility and product! Are We Asking the Wrong Questions?For years, product teams have structured their work around user stories, assuming that if we document needs well enough, success will follow. But what if user stories are only capturing symptoms, not the root of what customers truly need? In this episode, Ben and Jim explore:Why the traditional user story approach often fails to predict what customers really want.How Jobs to Be Done flips the script—shifting focus from product features to customer outcomes.The dangers of making product decisions based on assumptions rather than real human behavior.How to integrate JTBD thinking into your product discovery process.Practical Takeaways:Start with the job, not the product. Instead of asking what customers need from your product, ask: What are they trying to get done?Identify hidden competition. Your product isn’t just competing with direct alternatives—it’s competing with workarounds, habits, and even inaction.Test assumptions early. Don’t assume you know what customers want—validate their unmet needs through interviews and observation.Use job stories as a tool. A JTBD job story helps teams focus on the real-world progress customers seek, rather than getting lost in feature requests.🔥 What’s your take? Are user stories holding your team back? Have you tried Jobs to Be Done in your product work? Jim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkalbach/Jim's book, Jobs to Be Done: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jobs-Be-Done-Playbook-Organization/dp/1933820683 Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

Send us a textIn this week’s Product Agility Podcast, host Ben Maynard takes the mic solo once again, tackling an issue that has taken over the world of Agile and Product Management: our over-reliance on templates and canvases.From Vision Canvases to Lean Product Discovery Templates, we’ve been sold the dream that structured frameworks make our lives easier. But do they? Or are they actually making us lazy thinkers, stifling creativity, and holding us back from true innovation?The Trap of the One-Size-Fits-All MindsetCanvases and templates promise clarity, but they often lead teams to follow a formula rather than think critically. In this episode, Ben explores:Why templates feel safe—and how they can be a dangerous crutch.The illusion of progress—when filling out a template feels like work, but nothing meaningful gets decided.How standardised frameworks kill nuance—forcing unique products and teams into predefined boxes.When templates actually work—and how to adapt them to serve you, not control you.Practical Takeaways:Start with the problem, not the template. Before grabbing a canvas, ask: “What are we actually trying to solve?”Inspect and adapt. If a template doesn’t quite fit, tweak it—don’t let it dictate your thinking.Use templates as a conversation starter, not a final document. It’s the discussions and insights they generate that truly matter.Kill the dead templates. If a framework isn't adding value, stop using it. Not all tools deserve a permanent place in your workflow.🔥 What’s your take? Have templates helped or hindered your work? Do you have a canvas horror story or a surprising success? Tag Ben Maynard on LinkedIn and join the conversation!Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/👉 Follow the podcast and stay updated on new episodes!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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

Send us a text🔗 Master Lean Product Discovery – Sheev Workshops: https://sheev.co.uk/training/leanux/In this week’s Product Agility Podcast, host Ben Maynard takes the mic solo once again to tackle one of the biggest and most persistent failures in product and agile transformations: the misunderstanding of how learning drives adaptability.For years, agile practitioners and product leaders have been trapped by a delivery-first mindset. They race to meet deadlines without truly validating their ideas. The result? Teams deliver at speed but fail to learn fast, leading to wasted effort, frustrated stakeholders, and products that miss the mark.Ben dives into why learning speed > delivery speed and how misinterpreting key agile principles has slowed us down rather than accelerating success. He also unpacks the critical mistake that organisations continue to make: treating the business as just the Product Owner, rather than fostering true collaboration between developers, users, and real business stakeholders.Key Takeaways:The hidden cost of prioritising speed of delivery over speed of learningWhy the "business" in agile principles should mean more than just the Product OwnerHow teams can validate ideas before writing a single line of codeThe case for continuous user engagement—not just after launchA simple shift to break free from feature-factory thinkingPractical Insights:Why your roadmap should be a learning plan, not just a list of featuresThe power of discovery sprints to de-risk product decisionsHow learning Kanban can revolutionise backlog refinementAgile Coaches & Scrum Masters—your real role isn't efficiency, it's learning🔎 Join the conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

Send us a textIn this week’s Product Agility Podcast, host Ben Maynard takes the mic solo to tackle one of the most controversial (and misunderstood) statements in product development: "Developers should NEVER talk to customers or users…"😲But wait—should they? Or is this just another myth holding product teams back?Ben dives into the real reasons why some organisations resist letting developers engage with customers, why this mindset stifles innovation, and how shifting towards an outcome-driven approach leads to better products, happier teams, and more business impact.With years of experience bridging the gap between Agile and Product, Ben shares practical strategies for empowering teams to focus on solving real problems rather than just shipping features.Key Takeaways:Why many teams are stuck in a feature factory—and how to break free.The power of direct customer conversations—and why every developer should be involved.Outcome vs. Output: How to stop wasting time and money building the wrong things.The Lean Product Canvas in action: A real-world example of saving tens of thousands by testing ideas early.Leadership mindset shifts: Moving from feature delivery to solving business problems.Practical Insights:How teams can validate their ideas BEFORE writing a single line of code.Why traditional backlog management is failing product teams—and what to do instead.The simple interviewing techniques that empower teams to make better decisions.Scrum Masters & Agile Coaches: How to bring customer learning into sprint reviews.Links & Resources:🔗 Learn more about the Lean Product Canvas → Sheev Workshops: https://sheev.co.uk/training/leanux/📚 Read ‘Who Does What by How Much’ by Jeff Gothelf → https://bit.ly/3EB16ze🔎 Join the conversation on LinkedIn → Ben Maynard’s Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ Ready to challenge the status quo? Listen now and let us know: Do developers in your team talk to customers? Why or why not? 👇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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

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.

Send us a textIn this week’s Product Agility Podcast, we explore the true foundations of high-performing teams with Lucy Widdowson and Paul Barbour, executive team coaches, authors, and lead tutors at Henley Business School. With decades of experience coaching leadership teams, Lucy and Paul share their insights on what separates functional teams from truly exceptional ones—and how organisations can foster collaboration that drives real results.Key Takeaways:What makes a ‘real’ team? Why many groups never reach their full potential.The 7 Key Traits of High-Performing Teams—and how to cultivate them.Breaking silos: The critical role of inter-team collaboration.Psychological courage over safety: Why real progress requires brave conversations.From scepticism to buy-in: How to engage teams resistant to change.Practical Insights:Team Coaching vs. Facilitation: Understanding the difference and when to use each.Shifting ownership to the team so performance improvements last.Leading global teams effectively: Overcoming the challenges of remote collaboration.Cross-team interventions: How getting teams in the same room accelerates progress.Quotable Moment:"You don’t create high-performing teams—you create the conditions for them to emerge."Links & Resources:📖 Read Lucy & Paul’s book: "Building Top-Performing Teams"👉 Amazon Link🌐 Learn more about Lucy & Paul’s work at Performance Edge👉 Performance-Edge.co.ukHost 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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

Send us a textIn this week’s Product Agility Podcast, we explore the power of effective design with Ashley Nicodemus, a seasoned product designer and Senior Director of Design at UE Group. Ashley shares her deep expertise in mission-critical design and explains why beauty is great—but effectiveness is what truly drives impact.Key Takeaways:Design Beyond Beauty: Why effective design often means making products invisible in mission-critical environments.Focus on Performance: Minimising cognitive load and maximising human performance in high-stakes situations.Adoption Over Change: Learn how aligning with users' natural behaviours can unlock higher adoption rates.Strategic Insights: Why prioritising workflows over aesthetics can make or break your product's success.Practical Insights:Mission-Critical Principles: Discover the surprising rules of designing for environments like aerospace and medical industries.The Power of Minimalism: How “less is more” creates better outcomes in high-stakes environments.Behaviour-First Design: Build around users’ existing workflows rather than forcing new habits.Quotable Moments:“Delight comes not from flashy features but from helping users get their job done seamlessly.”“A great product feels like an extension of its user—effortless and intuitive.”Links and Resources:Explore Ashley’s work at UE Group: https://www.uegroup.com/Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-nicodemus-23632867/💬 Ready to rethink your approach to design? Tune in now and tell us: How does your product balance beauty with effectiveness?Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Don’t miss this episode—your users will thank you!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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80

Send us a textIn this week’s Product Agility Podcast, we explore the critical link between strategy and OKRs with Sebastien Prioris, a seasoned product leader and founder of Stratify. Seb shares why so many organisations struggle to make OKRs work—and how a clear, actionable strategy can change everything.Key Takeaways:OKRs Alone Aren’t Enough: Why they fail without a strong strategy behind them.The Missing Link: How to connect your vision, objectives, and execution seamlessly.Empowering Teams: Align OKRs with outcome-driven goals to foster success.Strategic Debt: The hidden cost of ignoring foundational strategic work.Practical Insights:Crafting Strategy: Treat strategy as an optimisation problem for better results.Breaking Silos: Use strategy to align teams and drive cross-functional collaboration.Outcome-Focused Leadership: Embed strategic thinking at every level of your organisation.Quotable Moments:“OKRs aren’t dead, but they’re meaningless without the strategy to back them up.”“A great strategy connects vision to execution and empowers teams to thrive.”Links and Resources:Explore Stratify: https://stratify.me/Connect with Seb Prioris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebprioris/💬 Ready to rethink your approach to OKRs and strategy? Tune in now and share your thoughts: Is your organization focused on the right thing?Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Don’t miss this episode—it could transform how you think about strategy and OKRs!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. Stay up-to-date with us on our social media📱! Ben Maynard 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmaynard-sheev/ 🐦 https://x.com/BenWMaynard 💻 https://sheev.co.uk/ Product Agility Podcast 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/productagilitypod/ 💻 https://productagilitypod.co.uk/ 🖇️ https://linktr.ee/productagility Listen & Share On Spotify & iTunes Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0lkwAYJzVSuk5zfJ1vIDZq?si=4c691fb12f124a56 iTunes - https://apple.co/3YvTX8p Want to come on the podcast? Want to be a guest or have a guest request? Let us know here https://bit.ly/49osN80