Jock Busuttil's Blog: I Manage Products, page 19

PRODUCTHEAD: Strongly-held beliefs

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADfaithless the wonder producttl;dr

People more easily accept they’re not seeing the whole picture than being told they’re wrong

Don’t make people feel bad about their beliefs — be kind and connect with them

Research shows that we interpret words like “we believe” with differing confidence levels

There is often a lack of discipline when it comes to ta...

PRODUCTHEAD: How to influence stakeholders

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADi am citizen producttl;dr

Use empathy to appreciate the context, needs and pain points of your stakeholders

Understanding people’s social style helps you influence stakeholders more effectively

You can use different modes of persuasion to craft a more compelling argument

Picking the right time to make your point can amplify your persuasiveness

...

PRODUCTHEAD: Conversion funnel analysis — down the rabbit hole

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADfollow product aroundtl;dr

Each customer has their own unique journey to and through your product

Conversion funnel analysis with bar charts is a conscious choice to maximise precision over accuracy

Cart abandonment is an opportunity to engage with your users

Conversion rate is a quantitative springboard to qualitative insights

a favour: plea...

PRODUCTHEAD: Presenting to inform, educate and entertain (communication toolkit #5)

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADsubterranean homesick product managertl;dr

Story structure and the right content give your presenting more impact

Try to create presentations that captivate, not subdue

A perception audit helps narrow the gap between how you perceive yourself and how others see you

Good breathing technique when speaking both calms you and produces a better sound

...

PRODUCTHEAD: Efficient note-taking (communication toolkit #4)

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADi am product insanetl;dr

A mind map is helpful for noting non-linear information

The Cornell note-taking method can be useful for learning

Sketchnotes allow more effective visual communication

a favour: please share this with other product people

every PRODUCTHEAD edition is online for you to refer back to

hello

As you might have gather...

PRODUCTHEAD: Writing for the needs of your audience (communication toolkit #3)

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADproduct rubbertl;dr

What you write online is there to serve the users’ needs

Writing for the web = using short sentences

People read differently on the web than they do on paper

Tools exist to help make your writing easier to understand

a favour: please share this with other product people

every PRODUCTHEAD edition is online for you to ref...

86: The 4 unintended side-effects of risk aversion and what to do about them

Risk is knowing there’s a steep cliff at the side of a mountain road.

Risk management is having metal guard rails to stop you inadvertently driving off the cliff.

Risk appetite is how far or close to the cliff-edge the guard rails let you drive. (Or possibly how easy or difficult it is for you to break through the guard rails.)

Risk aversion is simply closing the mountain road to begin with, and having to go the long way round instead.

When we become more worried about risk, four unintended thin...

PRODUCTHEAD: How to read more effectively (communication toolkit #2)

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADin productstl;dr

Read a format that suits you best, whether physical or digital

As you read, ask yourself questions of the content to keep yourself engaged with it

Analytical reading allows you to understand, then accept or reject the key idea being presented

F-shaped reading occurs on web content because people are short on time or engagement

...

PRODUCTHEAD: Active listening (communication toolkit #1)

PRODUCTHEAD is a regular newsletter of product management goodness,
curated by Jock Busuttil.

Subscribe to PRODUCTHEADthe amazing sounds of producttl;dr

Being a better listener can improve your productivity, as well as your ability to influence, persuade and negotiate

Psychological safety partly depends on your team feeling they are being listened to

a favour: please share this with other product people

every PRODUCTHEAD edition is online for you to refer back ...

What’s the difference between ‘measures of success’ and ‘definition of done’?

Here’s a question I was asked recently:

Hi Jock,

How would you describe ‘measures of success’ versus the ‘definition of done’? I’m trying to explain the difference simply to my team.

Thanks,

W

For me at least, the definition of done is when the output of the delivery team is complete. However, simply being ‘done’ (code tested, checked in, other usual housekeeping / hygiene tasks completed) gives no indication of whether it was the right thing to build in the first place. Nor does it help ...