First post. That's a lot of pressure.
The natural starting point for this blog seems to be my leadership philosophy. Everything else stems from that, including team culture and excellence in the workplace.
Leadership, Not Management
Managers manage tasks; leaders lead people.
I put the needs of my team first, with a focus on mentoring, empowerment, and support.
A strong work ethic naturally derives from being passionate about your work, feeling heard and appreciated, and being engaged. It's my job to make sure my team has all three elements.
While autonomy is important, the most independent people know to reach out for help and advice. And they know how to offer it, as well.
Leaders stand at the crossroads of the individual needs of people and the goals of the business, which means it is part of my role to make sure that everything is in alignment among the different levels within the company.
My ultimate goal as a leader is to raise up the members of my team so they can shine brightly. When my team succeeds, I succeed.
People Come First
When companies make a "people first" culture, it creates a workplace in which employees are excited to participate. And excited employees are more productive and more innovative. It's a win-win for people and businesses.
Take time to get to know people. Engage with them. Understand their needs and what drives them.
I believe that a wide range of experiences and backgrounds within the product team and stakeholders makes for more inclusive, more accessible, and more intuitive products. I strive to make all voices both included and welcome, and I actively seek out new voices.
Time off from work is not just nice; it is critical to high performance and happiness. Maintain the separation between business and life. Take regular vacations. Attend to family needs. Mental health breaks are good.
All emotions are valid. However, we can choose to express those emotions in a way that is positive and productive for the team, as well as for our coworkers and customers.
Assume good intent on the part of coworkers and customers; they are trying to do their jobs the best way they know how, even if they don’t always act in a way that we would prefer.
Values Matter
There is no conflict of interest in acting ethically and acting in the best interest of the company. Be your true self and stand up for what you believe in.
I value honesty, integrity, curiosity, kindness, empathy, self-awareness, transparency, and a desire to learn.
Honesty never needs to be “brutal.” Always pair honesty with compassion.
Always act with integrity, even when faced with pressure. We can meet our business goals while still saying no to unethical / questionable requests.
Let your voice be heard! You have valuable experiences and opinions to add to the team.
Learn and Adapt Continuously
Nothing is ever complete; this includes our products and ourselves. There is always room for improvement and growth.
Curiosity is one of the most critical character traits necessary to a good product manager. Ask all the questions. Don’t be afraid to dig in and find out the “why” behind things.
Constant learning is critical to success. Read blogs and industry journals. Take classes. Pay attention to the news. Check out the latest trends. Talk to strangers.
Sometimes, when we reach for the stars, we fall short. Failures and mistakes are learning opportunities in disguise. Don’t let fear of failure hold you back from trying. The only real failure is not learning from past mistakes. Take responsibility when you don’t live up to your best self, and hold others to the same standard.
By constantly presenting to each other, we offer opportunities to share our knowledge and experience with our teammates and they have opportunities to do the same with us.
The more information you have about the business and decisions being made, the better you are able to do your job.
If you don’t tell me what you are thinking and feeling, then I will never know. I can’t be a better leader without feedback from others.