TopProds’ Post

Product Ops: The Unsung Heroes of Product Success... Ever wonder how top product teams consistently smash their targets? After years in the trenches, I've learned it's, at least partly, down to brilliant product ops people. As a product leader who's worked across continents. From my early days in South Africa to my current roles in the UK, I've come to see product ops folks as indispensable allies. They're the ones who turn our lofty ideas into workable realities. In the latest Product Team Success we've focused on an amazing group of Product Ops Pros and we spoke about: (Link in comments below) 🧭 Nailing Repeatable Systems: --Antonia Landi shared gold on building rock-solid processes --We explored how to stop reinventing the wheel with every project --Believe me, this is crucial for maintaining your sanity 🔍 Thriving in Chaos: --Jerry Limber and I swapped tales of navigating the unknown --Learned to make decisions when everything's gone pear-shaped --Got some cracking tips on balancing intuition with hard data ⏱️ Accelerating Without Compromising: --Emmanuelle Orsi Orsi offered gems on improving time-to-market --We dissected how to spot those pesky bottlenecks slowing us down --Her insights alone make this episode a must-listen 🤝 Aligning Product and Engineering: --Holly Holbrook shared her secrets for building dream teams --We tackled the perennial challenge of marrying product vision with tech realities --Wish I'd known this years ago - would've saved countless headaches! Chatting with these pros reminded me why I'm passionate about this field. Their dedication to optimising product teams is genuinely inspiring. Whether you're a product leader swamped in the day-to-day, or a PM looking to level up, do give this a listen. It's chock-full of practical wisdom you can apply straightaway. With a robust product ops strategy, your team can become an unstoppable force. P.S. What's your toughest product ops challenge? DM me and let's put our heads together. I've been there, and I reckon we can crack it! (link in comments) #ProductOps #ProductLeadership #TeamSuccess

🚀 Last Call, Berlin! Don't Miss Out on the Ultimate Product Weekend Experience! 🚀 Product Managers, it's time to elevate your game! Today is the LAST day to secure your spot for the Product Weekend in Berlin happening on June 21-22! 📅 Why should you join us? Imagine a day and a half packed with insights, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities with the sharpest minds in product management. From PMs with just a year under their belt to seasoned Product Leaders with a decade of experience—there’s something for everyone! Expect real-world case studies, interactive sessions, and a chance to get direct feedback on your product challenges. So hurry up and grab one of the last spots left! See you all soon in Berlin! 🚀 #productmanagement #productweekend #berlintech #networking #productleaders #pmcommunity

Ever feel like a Product Manager’s job is a mix of being a visionary, a therapist, and a fortune teller? 😅 One minute you're crafting the perfect roadmap, and the next, you're soothing stakeholders (yes, the roadmap is still on track, I promise!). But in all seriousness, product management is about balancing big ideas with real-world execution. It’s about listening to customers, working with brilliant teams, and making tough decisions—like whether to add that one more feature or stick to the plan. Here’s the thing: the magic happens when you focus on delivering value, not just features. It’s about continuously learning, iterating, and understanding that no product is ever "done." So, to all my fellow PMs out there: keep those roadmaps flexible, your teams motivated, and your sense of humor intact! 🎉 #ProductManagement #Roadmaps #Agile #CustomerValue #Leadership #TechLife

Product Operations was a major theme at the Product@Heart conference I attended last Friday, and it got me thinking deeply about how our industry is evolving. Product management is hard. We need to be visionary yet data-driven, fast yet aligned, constantly (in)validating, and continuously delivering results. All of this, often with limited data, scarce market insights, and building our processes on the go. Product Operations addresses the need for product teams to optimize processes and decision-making, providing the tools and support for PMs to focus on their actual job: building products that work, rather than building processes to work. On the other hand, if enabling structures become too rigid or lead to excessive delegation, PMs might risk losing the heart and soul of their product. At the conference, I had the chance to discuss both the benefits and risks of this approach. While Product Ops can be a key enabler of operational efficiency, as Melissa Perri emphasized in her keynote, “Product Operations is NOT a replacement for unskilled Product Managers or Leaders.” A big thank you to Petra Wille, Arne Kittler, and the Product at Heart team for organizing such a thoughtful and insightful event! #productatheart #productops #productmanagement

Next Thursday (Oct 10th) I'm hosting our new workshop to assess your company's product operating model. Are you a Product Leader, ProductOps/DesignOps, any Ops manager, Team lead or chapter lead, join us for this free workshop at our Hike One office! Why join? - Learn from other leaders in the product development field - Exchange ideas, thoughts and challenges - Get started in assessing your own product operating model and improve your product What to expect: • Introduction to the product operations principles • Review of the product principles in the context of your product/service: - team - culture - discovery - delivery - product vision • Brainstorm on next actions for your product operations • Q&A • Lunch @Hike One office Interested in joining? Send me a dm #productPrinciples #productOperations #productOperatingModel

I’ve officially completed the Radical Product Thinking: Vision Setting Course! Pendo and Mind the Product’s new course explored what makes a good product vision and how to create a shared vision that fuels team and organizational alignment. Must say for an individual contributor Product Manager, I learned quite a few actionable and tangible techniques that would help me to scale up the shared vision across my team and help us deliver outcomes that complement to our overall business strategy. #RPTVisionCourse

Product reviews, Steerco, Councils... 🛣️ or 🎪 When does these help to move faster vs add an additional hoop to jump through for product managers? While we all agree on the importance of stakeholder alignement and buy-in, does it help to have it standardized or is it something PMs know they have to do and will find their own way? As a Product Ops professional, I believe in the power of structured collaboration. However, it's essential to distinguish between meaningful engagement and ritualistic check-ins. To maximize value, we need to: - Optimize processes: Provide PMs with templates, dedicated stakeholder time, and efficient tools. - Focus on outcomes: Shift the emphasis from reporting to decision-making, resource allocation, and actionable feedback. What's your experience? Have these review processes been a catalyst for product success or a hindrance? Share your thoughts! #productmanagement #productops #stakeholdermanagement

Just wrapped up a fantastic course in Product Operations! As someone deeply invested in optimizing product teams, this course offered a comprehensive dive into the fundamentals and advanced strategies essential for making product teams thrive. The demand for skilled Product Ops pros is growing fast, and this Product-Led Alliance course by Chris Butler captured exactly why this role is indispensable. Key highlights: 🔹 Mastering Core Terminology & Roles – Clarifying expectations and responsibilities so that every Product Ops professional can deliver maximum value. 🔹 Community-Centric Product Management – Practical insights on applying product management expertise to foster strong, engaged product communities. 🔹 Experimentation & Data – Tactics for designing experiments and using data to inform programs and elevate team performance. 🔹 Building World-Class Communities – A blueprint for driving collaboration across product, process, and people. Excited to bring these insights into my work and help drive the impact of Product Ops forward! #ProductOperations #ContinuousLearning #ProductManagement #ProductOps #Leadership

Every great product starts with a spark of inspiration… Whether you're just stepping into the world of product management or you're a seasoned pro, remember that the journey from idea to launch is all about vision, strategy, and execution. Here's a little Monday motivation: every product leader started as a beginner. So, how do you elevate your product management game? Lead with empathy: Truly understand your users' needs and challenges. Craft a clear vision: Know the purpose and goals driving your product. Build a roadmap: Strategically prioritize features and set the course. Collaborate across teams: Bring your vision to life with cross-functional teamwork. Keep learning: Stay curious, and always seek to grow your skills and knowledge. Let's embrace this week with a commitment to building something extraordinary… What's your go-to product management resource or tip? Drop it in the comments #ProductManagement #Newweek #MondayMotivation #ProductLeadership #CustomerFocus #InnovationMindset