Ever wonder why some product teams seem to move mountains while others just spin their wheels? Often, the difference comes down to one critical role: the Product Owner.
Think about it: When you get product management right, you’re not just improving one person’s performance. You’re amplifying the impact of an entire team of designers, developers, and other professionals. That’s serious leverage.
So what makes the difference between good and great product management? Let’s break down four key moves that high-impact Product Owners make:
1. Cast a Product Vision That Actually Moves People
Forget the corporate-speak about “being a market leader” or “delighting customers.” Great Product Owners paint vivid pictures of better futures that people can see and feel.
The power of a strong vision isn’t just that it inspires—though it definitely does that. It’s that it helps you and your team make better decisions every single day. When everyone can see where you’re going, they can make smart choices about how to get there.
2. Become Your Customers’ Greatest Student
The best Product Owners are endlessly curious about their customers. They don’t just collect requirements—they dig deep to understand the real challenges and aspirations driving their customers.
More importantly, they become master learners and curators, turning customer insights into clear, compelling stories that help their teams build the right things.
Menlo Innovations’ title for their Product Owner equivalent, Customer Anthropologist, is a great example of emphasizing this part of the role.
3. Master the Art of Slicing and Focus
Every day your team spends building the wrong thing is a day you can’t get back. Great Product Owners have a knack for breaking down complex problems into small slices that deliver both learning AND value, ruthlessly prioritizing what matters most.
They know that “everything is important” really means “nothing is important.” So they make the tough calls about what to do now and what to defer.
4. Close the Loop
Here’s where many Product Owners stop too soon. The great ones know that shipping features isn’t enough—they obsessively track whether those features are actually creating the value they intended.
They’re not afraid to learn that something isn’t working, because that learning makes the next decision better.
Want to Build These Skills?
If you’re ready to amplify your impact as a Product Owner, there’s one more chance to learn these skills with us in 2024. Join Richard for our December public Certified Scrum Product Owner workshop, where you’ll dive deep into these practices and more.
You’ll walk away with concrete tools for vision-casting, customer research, backlog management, and value measurement—plus a CSPO certification from the Scrum Alliance. (Use promo code, EOYPO2024, for a $200 discount!)
Remember: Get product ownership right, and you’re not just improving one role—you’re unlocking the full potential of your entire team.
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