(2024-02-13) Cagan Product Leadership Theater

Martin Cagan on Product Leadership Theater. The previous article on Product Management Theater proved to be quite popular. ((2024-01-30) CaganProductManagementTheater)

But as expected, some people took it somewhat personally, and pointed the blame at their managers (the product leaders) or at their company’s executives.

it is true that where you find product management theater, you usually find product leadership theater. This should be no surprise as strong product managers have usually been coached and developed by strong product leaders.

But when I talk to the product leaders, they usually point the blame at their senior leadership (e.g. CEO that does not come from product

*There is no question that the senior leaders have an important role to play if you want to move to the product model, and some behaviors may need to change.

However, the surprise for so many product leaders is that they have at least as much work to do.*

If a product leader is not willing to take responsibility for raising the skill level of her product people, then the product teams will be staffed with people who lack the necessary level of competence. (Need stair-step model of improving the process as their skills grow - otherwise their skills are also theater.)

When that’s the case, who would be surprised if the teams are not empowered?

Who would be surprised if the CEO doesn’t trust the product leaders?

Two important things for product leaders to keep in mind, especially if they wish to embark on a transformation to the product model: first, you have as much ownership as you have credibility; and second, part of your job as a product leader is to change hearts and minds.