501: How product managers can build people-first cultures – with Gary Harpst

How product managers should use the five-step model for creating team culture Watch on YouTube

TLDR

• Product managers often face the challenge of significant responsibilities without formal authority.
• Creating a people-first culture is essential for gaining influence and driving innovation.
• A five-step model helps build this culture: caring, trust, unity, accountability, and mentoring.
• Recognizing the value in every team member and leveraging constraints can lead to significant innovations.
• Clear purpose helps teams navigate complexity and maintain focus.
• Mentoring is crucial for developing future leaders and sustaining a strong organizational culture.

Introduction: The Product Manager’s Unique Challenge

Product managers often find themselves in a unique position: responsible for a company’s future success but lacking the formal authority to implement changes directly. This scenario is akin to steering a ship without having full command over the crew. The key to success in this role lies in the ability to influence and guide others effectively.

This is where the concept of a people-first culture becomes invaluable. It’s not just a trendy phrase – it’s a fundamental approach that can significantly enhance a product manager’s effectiveness. In this article, we’ll explore how to build this culture and use it to increase your influence, foster innovation, and create high-performing teams.

The Paradox: Technological Progress vs. Social Development

Before considering solutions, it’s worth examining a paradox: Why have we made such remarkable progress in technology while seemingly stagnating in our ability to work together effectively?

Consider the rapid advancement of technology in recent decades. We’ve progressed from basic mobile phones to sophisticated smartphones that function as portable computers. However, interpersonal challenges in the workplace remain largely unchanged from previous generations.

This disparity can be attributed to two key factors:

• The physical world (including technology) operates on consistent, predictable principles. This consistency facilitates progress and innovation.
• The social world (human interactions) lacks a universal set of governing rules. This variability makes progress in social realms less linear and more complex.

As product managers, we must navigate both these realms. Our role requires bringing people together to create innovative products. The challenge lies in fostering effective collaboration without a clear social framework to guide these interactions.

The Three Pillars of Leadership: Know, Do, Be

Effective product managers are more than just idea generators or task managers. They are leaders who inspire and guide their teams. To excel in this leadership role, focus on these three key areas:

1. Know: Develop a comprehensive understanding of your product, market, and team dynamics.
2. Do: Take strategic actions to advance your product and support your team.
3. Be: Embody the leadership qualities that align with your values and organizational culture.

This framework provides a holistic approach to leadership, encompassing knowledge, action, and personal attributes.

The Five-Step Model for Cultivating a People-First Culture

Let’s explore a five-step model for creating a culture where people are prioritized, leading to successful product development:

1. Care: Fostering Genuine Concern

Envision a team where each member genuinely cares about their colleagues’ success. This forms the foundation of a people-first culture. When individuals feel valued, they’re more likely to take calculated risks, share innovative ideas, and exceed expectations.

Demonstrating care:

• Inquire about team members’ lives outside of work.
• Take note of important personal details and follow up on them.
• Offer support when a colleague is facing challenges, even if not directly work-related.

2. Trust: The Catalyst for Collaboration

Trust acts as a bridge between caring and effective teamwork. In an environment of trust, team members feel comfortable voicing their opinions, sharing unconventional ideas, and acknowledging mistakes. This openness is crucial for fostering innovation.

Building trust:

• Maintain consistency between your words and actions.
• Acknowledge when you’re uncertain or have made a mistake.
• Respect confidentiality and avoid workplace gossip.

3. Unity: Synergy in Action

Unity, or “oneness,” refers to creating a team that achieves more collectively than the sum of individual efforts. It’s comparable to a well-coordinated sports team where every member works in perfect harmony.

Teams that achieve this level of unity can be 5-10 times more productive than average teams, significantly enhancing overall performance.

Characteristics of high-performing teams:

• Aligned purpose and objectives
• Transparent and honest communication
• Mutual respect and support
• Ability to engage in constructive disagreement

4. Accountability: Ensuring Follow-Through

Even highly effective teams benefit from structure. Accountability ensures that all team members fulfill their commitments. It’s not about imposing penalties, but rather about supporting collective success.

Implementing effective accountability:

• Establish clear expectations and deadlines.
• Conduct regular progress check-ins.
• Acknowledge successes and learn from setbacks as a team.

5. Mentoring: Investing in Future Leaders

The final step focuses on developing future leaders. Mentoring not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the entire organization.

Benefits of mentoring: For Mentors For Mentees Refine leadership skills Gain insights from experienced professionals Gain fresh perspectives Develop professional confidence Create a lasting impact Expand professional network Implementing a People-First Approach in Product Management

To apply these principles in the practical world of product management, consider the following strategies:

1. Recognize potential in every team member: Approach each individual as a valuable contributor with unique strengths.
2. View constraints as opportunities: Instead of viewing limitations as obstacles, see them as catalysts for creative problem-solving.
3. Support personal and professional growth: Assist team members in achieving their individual goals, which in turn benefits the entire team.
4. Navigate complexity with purpose: Use a clear sense of purpose as a guiding principle during challenging times.

Case Study: Leveraging Constraints for Innovation

Consider this real-world example of how embracing constraints can lead to significant innovations:

A software company faced a major industry shift from text-based to graphical interfaces. Their primary competitor assigned 100 people to develop a next-generation product. Due to recent downsizing, our subject company had only five team members available for this crucial project.

Rather than conceding defeat, they adopted a creative approach. Recognizing they couldn’t build everything from scratch, they sought existing tools they could leverage. They discovered Microsoft’s Visual Basic, a new tool at the time that wasn’t yet considered for serious development work.

By thinking innovatively and working within their limitations, this small team of five managed to launch their product within 30 days of their much larger competitor. The outcome was remarkable: their company experienced 600% growth over the subsequent five years.

This example illustrates how constraints, when approached with the right mindset, can serve as catalysts for innovation.

Navigating Complexity: The Power of Purpose

In the dynamic field of product management, complexity is a constant. However, a well-defined purpose serves as an effective tool for managing this complexity.

A strong sense of purpose offers several advantages:

• Facilitates decision-making processes
• Maintains team motivation during challenging periods
• Simplifies feature and resource prioritization
• Enhances alignment across different teams and departments

Consider purpose as your team’s guiding principle. When faced with uncertainty, it helps maintain direction and focus.

Mentoring: Cultivating the Next Generation of Product Leaders

Mentoring is a crucial component in creating a sustainable people-first culture. Its importance stems from several factors:

• It helps maintain and strengthen organizational culture
• Develops a pipeline of future leaders
• Improves employee retention by demonstrating investment in professional growth
• Enhances overall team performance and innovation capacity

It’s important to note that mentoring is a reciprocal process. As a mentor, you often gain new insights and perspectives while guiding others.

Integrating Timeless Principles in Modern Product Management

While the principles discussed are universally applicable, it’s worth noting that many of these ideas have roots in long-standing biblical traditions.

The concepts of valuing individuals, fostering unity, and purposeful leadership can be found in biblical wisdom. By incorporating these principles into your product management approach, you’re drawing on deep-rooted understanding of effective human collaboration.

Practical Steps: From Theory to Practice

While understanding these concepts is valuable, their true impact is realized through implementation. Here are some actionable steps to consider:

1. Implement regular check-ins: Schedule time to connect with team members about their personal goals and challenges.
2. Trust-building exercise: Share a professional learning experience with your team, discussing the insights gained.
3. Unity workshop: Organize a team activity focused on aligning individual and collective purposes.
4. Accountability system: Establish partnerships within the team for mutual support in achieving key objectives.
5. Mentoring initiative: Develop a structured mentoring program within your product team or department.

Conclusion: Embarking on Your Journey to a People-First Team Culture

Developing a people-first culture is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort, reflection, and adaptability. The rewards, however, are substantial: increased influence, enhanced innovation, and a team capable of addressing complex challenges effectively.

As a product manager, your role extends beyond product development – you’re shaping the future of your organization. By prioritizing people, you’re creating an environment conducive to exceptional outcomes.

Useful links:

• Check out Gary’s website
• Check out Gary’s book, Built to Beat Chaos

Innovation Quote

“We are created to be victors over chaos, not victims.” – Gary Harpst

Application Questions

1. How can we demonstrate genuine concern for each other, particularly in remote or high-pressure work environments?
2. What specific action could we take this week to enhance trust within our team?
3. How might we reframe our most significant current challenge as an opportunity for innovation?
4. What does peak performance look like for our specific product team?
5. How can we balance accountability with fostering an environment that encourages calculated risk-taking and creativity?

Bio

Gary Harpst is the CEO of LeadFirst, creator of the first complete ERM employee relationship management system that does for leaders what CRM does for sales people. His passion is combining business excellence and biblical wisdom. He co-founded three high-tech businesses, including Solomon Software which merged with Great Plains and was sold to Microsoft. 

Gary has authored three books with his latest “Built to Beat Chaos, Biblical Wisdom for Leading Yourself and Others” (Wiley) is being released April 2023. He has built an overflowing life with his wife, three children, and four grandchildren.

Thanks!

Thank you for taking the journey to product mastery and learning with me from the successes and failures of product innovators, managers, and developers. If you enjoyed the discussion, help out a fellow product manager by sharing it using the social media buttons you see below.