Product Therapy

Marty Cagan, founder of SVPG and a leading expert in product strategy, joins Christian Idiodi to dive into the intricacies of transformation politics. They discuss the common political dynamics during product transformations and the vital role of champions and pilot teams in driving success. The conversation highlights the importance of securing quick results and building trust among stakeholders. Cagan emphasizes the need for effective communication and strategic leadership to navigate the delicate balance of organizational change.

In this episode, Christian Idiodi swaps from interviewer to interviewee. He breaks down his approach to employee onboarding, prompted by fellow SVPG partner, Chris Jones. Learn about the hidden dynamics in every employee onboarding, and Christian’s day-by-day guide for navigating them. Whether you are actively onboarding talent or need to re-onboard existing staff, this episode will help you set your team up for success. - Today’s discussion unpacks: Why onboarding time is a rare and precious resource The hidden dynamics in every onboarding How to enable trust between new and existing team members A step-by-step guide to a new hire’s first weeks Christian’s favorite tactics from years of onboardings - References: Coaching Tools - The One on One by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/coaching-tools-the-one-on-one/ New Employee Bootcamp by Christian Idiodi: https://www.svpg.com/new-employee-bootcamp/ Social Comparison Theory: https://dictionary.apa.org/social-comparison-theory - Where to find SVPG: SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/ Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/ Articles: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/articles/ Workshops: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/⁠ Videos: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/videos/ - Where to find Christian Idiodi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/ - Where to find Chris Jones: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjonessvpg/ - Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:20) Why onboarding matters (03:13) Trust dynamics with new hires (06:57) Onboarding starts before day 1 (12:57) Framing onboarding (18:07) Onboarding in cohorts (21:44) Creating a safe initial environment (23:07) Week 1 (25:39) Week 2 (27:58) Onboarding to a remote team (31:32) Critical onboarding milestones (35:22)  The first paycheck (39:07) Creating public wins (41:14) Closing thoughts - Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ - Production: Production by supermix.io

Marty Cagan, founder of the Silicon Valley Product Group, discusses the nuances of founder-style leadership, inspired by Paul Graham's insights. He debunks common misconceptions about what makes a strong leader. Cagan emphasizes the importance of coaching in effective management and the fine line between leadership and micromanagement. He shares strategies to cultivate product sense and lessons from the leadership styles of tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon, highlighting how to inspire teams while fostering innovation.

Chris Jones, a SVPG partner and time management expert, shares his insights on maximizing productivity in product development. He discusses the common struggles of professionals swamped by excessive meetings, emphasizing the urgent versus important task dilemma. Jones advocates for reshaping meeting cultures to foster trust and empowerment among teams. He provides actionable strategies for evaluating time use and reducing pointless meetings, helping listeners prioritize meaningful work over mere urgency.

Martina Lauchengco, a partner at SVPG and author of "Loved: How to Rethink Marketing for Tech Products," dives into the essentials of product marketing. She highlights the crucial differences between product and traditional marketing, emphasizing the need for clear value propositions. The conversation covers how product marketing can transform market adoption and its strategic role in business growth. Martina also shares insights on identifying the need for product marketing within companies, providing a real-world success story to illustrate her points.

In this insightful discussion, Jon Moore, a partner at SVPG and product management expert, shares his journey and advice on navigating product careers. He emphasizes the importance of approaching your career like a product while highlighting the value of self-education over formal certificates. Jon discusses the significance of mentorship and emotional intelligence in product management, along with what employers seek in candidates. Listeners gain practical tips for intentional career development and adapting to the evolving landscape of product management.

Christian Idiodi and Lea Hickman, partners at SVPG, dive into the art of stakeholder collaboration. They clarify the true nature of stakeholders and how to engage them effectively. The duo emphasizes proactive approaches and the benefits of one-on-one conversations over group meetings. They share insights on transforming stakeholders from barriers to enablers, navigating stakeholder-driven roadmaps, and the importance of building trust. With real-life examples, they equip listeners with tactical advice to enhance collaboration in product management.

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Martina Lauchengco, go deep on all things feedback. They discuss why feedback matters, how to give and receive it well, and how best practices change at different levels of a team hierarchy. Hear real examples of feedback conversations and actionable frameworks, phrases and tactics that you can use today. – In this discussion we unpack: How to give feedback to leaders How leaders can facilitate feedback The time and place to give feedback Real life examples of feedback conversations Actionable frameworks, phrases and tactics – References: Costanoa Ventures: ⁠https://costanoa.vc/⁠ Radical Candor: ⁠https://www.radicalcandor.com/⁠ Martina’s version of the SHARED feedback model: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/feedback-model-changed-my-life-martina-lauchengco-47o8c/⁠ – Where to find SVPG: SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/⁠ Other books: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/books/⁠ Articles: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/articles/⁠ Workshops: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/⁠ Videos: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/videos/⁠ – Where to find Christian Idiodi: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/⁠ – Where to find Martina Lauchengco: LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinalauchengco/⁠ – Timestamps: [00:46] Why feedback matters [02:55] What effective feedback sounds like [08:32] Actionable phrases, tools and tactics [11:56] How leaders can facilitate feedback [14:27] How to give feedback to seniors [18:57] The time and place to give feedback [20:07] How to give positive feedback [22:06] The coaching mindset [26:21] Outro – Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ – Production: Production by ⁠supermix.io

Christian Idiodi, a partner at SVPG, and Chris Jones, also an SVPG partner, tackle the complex issue of imposter syndrome. They share personal experiences illustrating how this psychological phenomenon affects many professionals. Learn how to recognize the signs and why it can actually serve as a motivator. The duo discusses practical coaching strategies for navigating these feelings and emphasizes the importance of seeking help and fostering a supportive network. Their insights offer a fresh perspective on overcoming self-doubt.

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Jon Moore, discuss ethics. They explain why good ethics is good business, who owns ethics in a company, and how to escalate ethical concerns. Hear real stories about complex ethical scenarios and practical advice for navigating these challenges in the workplace. - In today’s discussion, we unpack: The role of ethics in product development Who “owns” ethics at companies What to do when you notice something unethical The link between ethics, diversity and psychological safety The ethical landscape surrounding generative AI - References: Coaching Ethics: https://www.svpg.com/coaching-ethics/ Radhika Dutt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ Rob Chestnut, ex-Chief Ethics Officer at Airbnb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robchesnut/ UK ministers considering ban on smartphone sales to under-16s: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/10/uk-ministers-considering-banning-sale-of-smartphones-to-under-16s - Where to find SVPG: SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/ Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/ Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/ Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/ Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/ - Where to find Christian Idiodi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/ - Where to find Jon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonmoore - Timestamps: [00:00:00] Intro [00:01:11] The role of ethics in technology development [00:05:00] Who owns ethical questions within companies? [00:09:38] A challenging ethical scenario [00:13:38] Why good ethics is good business [00:18:56] The ethical landscape surrounding generative AI [00:21:30] Who owns the ethical responsibility in AI? [00:24:20] The importance of diversity [00:26:51] Ethics reflection exercise [00:27:52] Outro - Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ - Production: Production by supermix.io