None of this sounds hard, right?
The journey begins with empathy. Understand the customer's problem deeply: the depth of their pain, what they were trying to accomplish when the customer problem arose, and the actions and behaviors they took to solve it.
Next, gather insights and look for patterns that can inspire solutions. Then, mitigate risk by testing critical assumptions rigorously, gathering evidence, and experimenting your way toward building your first MVP or release.
Simple, right? So, despite best intentions and brilliant ideas, why do many products fail?
It takes commitment and discipline to work this way.
🔹 Effective product development demands cross-functional teams. Each role contributes a unique perspective, skills, expertise, and knowledge. The discovery work is relentless, guided by evidence, not hierarchy.
🔹 Leaders empower these teams. Instead of micromanaging, they provide air cover and remove obstacles. They ensure access to customers and data. They let teams thrive, make informed choices, and iterate fearlessly.
🔹 Stakeholders matter, but they shouldn't dictate solutions. Leaders strike a balance. They allow empowered teams to find the best path to delivering customer value and business impact.
🔹 Middle Managers play a crucial role. They contribute experts from various departments/functional areas. Their knowledge helps fuel innovation, offering their expertise and skills to help solve customer problems.
🔹 Leadership commitment matters. The executive team champions this transformation. Executives endorse evidence-based practices. They celebrate both successful launches and the courage to pause or pivot.
Ultimately, this is an organizational shift. It takes an entire organization willing to transform. It takes commitment and discipline, and Leadership sets the tone.
The reward is teams delivering products that solve crucial customer problems and achieve desired outcomes.
Written By: Pam Krengel