The AI Summer π€π, PM Super Powers π¦Έ, Dealing With B2B Sales-Driven Feature Requests π©, Metrics Overload π¨, Making MVP Smaller βοΈ
What should you read this week. Weekly Recap 2024-07-23 π
π Hey, Sam here! Welcome back to the weekly edition of The Product Trench. Each week, I recap a handful of interesting articles and stories related to product and leadership, in addition to my original monthly practical tips and stories on eclectic topics.
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Here are my favourite articles this week. Let's jump straight into it.
The AI Summer (3 min read)
Generative AI saw rapid adoption but limited sustained use, echoing early tech struggles. While widely tested, many pilots have yet to lead to deployment, mirroring the slow adoption of past innovations like e-commerce and smartphones. LLMs aren't standalone products; they need further development for practical applications. The tech world might be in a bubble phase, needing time to find a true product-market fit, much like previous tech evolutions.
From Good to Great in Product Management (2 min read)
Exceptional product managers excel by practicing seven superpower skills: empathy, effective communication, resilience, discernment, strategic decision-making, patience, and skill blending. These skills help them understand diverse perspectives, inspire teamwork, bounce back from setbacks, make wise choices, prioritize by value, maintain a long-term vision, and innovate. Developing and integrating these abilities thoughtfully into daily work leads to greater organizational success.
How to deal with B2B sales-driven feature requests (7 min read)
B2B product management differs significantly from B2C, often requiring a balanced approach between sales and product. In sales-driven environments, PMs must collaborate closely with sales teams to meet client needs without compromising product scalability. Understanding the core needs behind custom client requests and evaluating their potential for broader applications can lead to innovative solutions that benefit multiple clients. A Go-To-Market (GTM) Complexity Tracker can help quantify the impact of customizations on implementation timelines, aiding in better prioritization and alignment with business goals.
"Can I Make It Smaller?": How to Use an MVP Razor to Build Features (7 min read)
Applying the MVP Razor means continuously asking, "Can I make it smaller while preserving its essence?" You can save time and resources by stripping down features to their core elements. This approach helps test key assumptions, secure stakeholder buy-in, and iterate quickly based on feedback. Always focus on what's essential and avoid overcomplicating your MVP with unnecessary features. This ensures you're building what truly matters to users and can adapt swiftly to their needs.
The Myth of Execution (1 min read)
Great execution isn't just about discipline and hitting deadlinesβit's about delivering outstanding results with superb intuition, creativity, and strategic thinking. Many confuse visible activity and intense work with true execution. Steve Jobs excelled in execution by seamlessly integrating vision, strategy, and action, proving that great execution is deeply tied to having superior ideas and making a singular impact at every step.
Metric Overload: When Too Much Data Becomes a Problem (4 min read)
Organizations must balance data collection with actionable insights. Too much data without strategy leads to analysis paralysis. Signs include ignored dashboards, stagnant metrics, and wasted resources. Combat metric overload by aligning metrics with strategic goals, keeping dashboards simple, engaging teams, and balancing data with intuition. Focus on a few key performance indicators (KPIs) and ensure they drive meaningful change and improvements aligned with overall company objectives.
π That's it for today! Thank you for reading, and enjoy your week! See you next time.
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