Brian de Haaff's Blog, page 21
February 1, 2018
The Founder’s Paradox: So You Want a Team of Superstars?
Pelé. Beyonce. Chavez. Oprah. Salk. Magic. There are some names that require no explanation. You know exactly who these superstars are. The level of talent and impact supersede the need for their complete name — these folks have moved from mere mortals to one-name legends. But there are plenty of other stars in our midst.
In any successful organization or team, there are always a few. (Even though you probably call these people by their full name and they are not recognized around the world....
January 29, 2018
19 Big Myths About Remote Work
I feel like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day. You know that feeling when you keep having the same conversation again and again? You try to be patient. But you feel the repetition starting and you tense up. For me, that conversation goes something like this…
Me: Everyone on our team at Aha! works remotely.
Friend: Oh, so everyone works from home?
Me: Yes.
Friend: You must be really small.
Me: It depends on what you mean by small — we have almost 70 people now.
Friend: Really?! How do yo...
January 25, 2018
Why Good Product Managers Need to Be Great Project Managers
How is your “project manager” job going? People always asked me this earlier in my career when I worked as a product manager. If you are a product manager, I bet you have heard the same. It is because most people still do not know that product managers exist. And they definitely do not know what we do.
Our team at Aha! has been called “project managers” so many times in their careers that we wrote a blog on the differences between the two roles. However, there is some kernel of truth to that...
January 22, 2018
Hey Boss: I’m Drowning in Meetings
You versus your calendar. You are fighting for time to get your real work done. Nervously eyeing the clock. Each day is a relentless sprint from meeting to meeting. But the calendar always wins. It goes something like this…
8 a.m. Start work
8:15 a.m. – 12 p.m Booked with meetings
12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch (while catching up on email)
12:30 – 5 p.m. Booked with meetings
You wearily plea for help with your boss, but they are just as busy with their own meeting schedule. Eventually, you resign...
January 17, 2018
Do Your Company’s Core Values Mirror Your Own Values?
What are your core values? I am not referring to the aspirational traits that you want to strive towards. Or the bare minimum morals you require of yourself and others. I mean the beliefs that are deeply personal to you. They are part of your DNA. These core values are the fundamentals that guide your actions and choices every day — especially when no one is looking.
Now think about the company where you work or lead. Do your values line up?
I recently asked folks on LinkedIn about this idea...
January 16, 2018
Hey Product Manager: Do These 4 Things in 2018
Most product managers I know are optimistic realists. I am both — a former product manager and an optimistic realist. So call me biased. You could say it is their nature, but I think it comes from the job. Product managers plan thoroughly and vigorously for a future that is better than today. But getting there requires a certain confidence.
Product roadmapping requires a positive view of the future paired with a critical eye on the present.
You worked hard these past months to build a 2018 r...
January 15, 2018
This Is Why You Dread Going to Work
It wakes you up in the middle of the night. Your palms sweat and your mind races. Toss, turn. Toss, turn. Until finally the alarm goes “bing!” and you face the source of this anxiety. What is filling you with dread? I know. The anticipation of going to work.
Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. Studies suggest that many of you are gripped by more than just dread — you are actually walking into hazardous work conditions. Nearly one in five workers say they face a hostile or threatening work e...
January 9, 2018
Can You Be Perfect Every Day?
There are moments in all of our lives when we experience a deep sense of satisfaction. When we have worked incredibly hard and realized our true best. Instant flashes of mental and emotional euphoria. Masterpieces that no one else needs to appreciate. But you know that what you just accomplished means everything. And guess what? These moments can happen at work too.
Let me give you a few examples from our own team at Aha! I asked folks to recall short bursts — when time slowed down and pride...
January 4, 2018
The Future of Product Management
I care about product managers. A lot. This should not be a surprise. If you have been reading this blog for some time, then you know that I once was one. Product managers are special because they sit at the epicenter of everything. They communicate ideas, set strategy, and lead cross-functional teams to create products that delight customers. But there is something else that may be a surprise.
Product managers today are doing more than building products. Many of you are fundamentally transfo...
January 2, 2018
No Authority? No Problem. Here’s How to Get Respect at Work
We called him “Rodney.” It may have been cruel but this guy got no respect at work. Loud and rude and always asking for a special favor or seeking a shortcut to get something he wanted. He made more noise in his cube than a rowdy heckler at a comedy club. You can probably guess where the nickname came from — this former co-worker sounded a lot like late comedian Rodney Dangerfield.
But our Rodney was nowhere near as funny as his namesake. Maybe he acted the way he did out of insecurity. May...
