Entries from March 2009 ↓

Leadership is a critical element to successful product management. In this episode, Michael talks with Steve Farber about the importance of creating a culture of leadership. They discuss Extreme Leadership (”otherwise known as ‘real’ leadership”) and its odd mixture of fear and exhilaration. If the only reason you can think of to not do something is because it’s scary, that’s an indication that you should do it.

Michael and Steve also discuss Greater Than Yourself, Steve’s new leadership book. As leaders it’s your job to not just be helpful but to lift others above yourself. They discuss the three tenets of Greater Than Yourself:

• Expand yourself
• Give yourself
• Replicate yourself

Steve gives excellent advice on becoming a great leader.

You can read more about leadership on Steve’s blog and at GreaterThanYourself.com

 

 Standard Podcast [30:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Successful product managers understand the need to work effectively with the people in other parts of the organization. In this episode of the Product Management Pulse Michael talks with Saeed Khan about the six characteristics of great product managers:

• Don’t just sound smart; act smart and be smart
• Be technical without becoming a technologist
• “Spidey-sense” instincts are good; hard data is way better
• The 4 Cs of Leadership: credibility, commitment, communication and courage
• Be an integrator, translator and communicator; don’t be a terminator
• Own the product from conception to completion and beyond

Saeed and Michael also discuss the need for product managers to have a business mindset.

Saeed writes with two friends at the popular blog On Product Management.

 

 Six Characteristics of Product Managers [30:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download