In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner Lea Hickman go deep on stakeholder collaboration. They explain what a stakeholder is and exactly how to collaborate with them. Learn from real life examples and tactical advice for avoiding common pitfalls.

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In this discussion we unpack:

• A practical definition or “stakeholder”
• How they can be enablers rather than barriers
• The importance of being proactive
• Why one-on-ones are better than group meetings
• How to navigate stakeholder-driven roadmaps

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References:

• SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/
• Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/
• Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/
• Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/
• Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

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Where to find SVPG:

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Where to find Christian Idiodi:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find Lea Hickman:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahickman/

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Timestamps:

[00:01:15] Defining "stakeholder" (voice vs vote)

[00:04:12] Example of identifying and engaging stakeholders

[00:09:35] Example of stakeholders being enablers, not barriers

[00:11:01] The importance of being proactive

[00:13:21] Engaging via documents vs conversations

[00:16:13] Why one-on-ones are better than group meetings

[00:17:53] The value of engaging with the sales team

[00:19:43] Navigating stakeholder-driven roadmaps

[00:24:24] How to help stakeholders understand customer problems

[00:27:14] The rule of improv in stakeholder engagement

[00:28:23] Outro

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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Production:
Production by supermix.io

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Martina Lauchengco, go deep on all things feedback. They discuss why feedback matters, how to give and receive it well, and how best practices change at different levels of a team hierarchy. Hear real examples of feedback conversations and actionable frameworks, phrases and tactics that you can use today.

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In this discussion we unpack:

• How to give feedback to leaders
• How leaders can facilitate feedback
• The time and place to give feedback
• Real life examples of feedback conversations
• Actionable frameworks, phrases and tactics

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References:

• Costanoa Ventures: ⁠https://costanoa.vc/⁠
• Radical Candor: ⁠https://www.radicalcandor.com/⁠
• Martina’s version of the SHARED feedback model: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/feedback-model-changed-my-life-martina-lauchengco-47o8c/⁠

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Where to find SVPG:

• SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/⁠
• Other books: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/books/⁠
• Articles: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/articles/⁠
• Workshops: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/⁠
• Videos: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/videos/⁠

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Where to find Christian Idiodi:

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/⁠

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Where to find Martina Lauchengco:

• LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinalauchengco/⁠

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Timestamps:

[00:46] Why feedback matters

[02:55] What effective feedback sounds like

[08:32] Actionable phrases, tools and tactics

[11:56] How leaders can facilitate feedback

[14:27] How to give feedback to seniors

[18:57] The time and place to give feedback

[20:07] How to give positive feedback

[22:06] The coaching mindset

[26:21] Outro

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

–

Production:

Production by ⁠supermix.io

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Chris Jones, discuss imposter syndrome. They explain what imposter syndrome looks like, the different things it can signal, and how to coach yourself and others through it. Hear real stories about experiencing imposter syndrome and the proven tactics to help you overcome it.

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In today’s discussion, we unpack:

• What imposter syndrome looks like
• Why it can be a useful signal
• Chris and Christian’s experiences with imposter syndrome
• How to coach others through imposter syndrome
• Why and how to ask others for help

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References:

• Coaching Imposter Syndrome, SVPG blog post: https://www.svpg.com/coaching-imposter-syndrome
• Lea Hickman on Coaching Trust:https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/product-therapy/id1738373011?i=100065739482

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Where to find SVPG:

• SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/
• Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/
• Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/
• Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/
• Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

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Where to find Christian Idiodi:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find Chris Jones:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjonessvpg/

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:48) What imposter syndrome looks and feels like

(03:17) What is imposter syndrome really telling you?

(04:15) How does it manifest?

(06:20) Christian’s experience with imposter syndrome

(10:02) Chris' experience with imposter syndrome

(13:40) How to coach others through imposter syndrome

(16:00) A hack for learning skills you're afraid of

(18:40) Managing imposter syndrome as a leader

(21:42) Creating a culture of coaching

(27:15) Anxiety of anticipation > anxiety of reality

(28:05) Outro

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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Production:
Production by supermix.io

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Jon Moore, discuss ethics. They explain why good ethics is good business, who owns ethics in a company, and how to escalate ethical concerns. Hear real stories about complex ethical scenarios and practical advice for navigating these challenges in the workplace.

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In today’s discussion, we unpack:

• The role of ethics in product development
• Who “owns” ethics at companies
• What to do when you notice something unethical
• The link between ethics, diversity and psychological safety
• The ethical landscape surrounding generative AI

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References:

• Coaching Ethics: https://www.svpg.com/coaching-ethics/
• Radhika Dutt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/
• Rob Chestnut, ex-Chief Ethics Officer at Airbnb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robchesnut/
• UK ministers considering ban on smartphone sales to under-16s: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/10/uk-ministers-considering-banning-sale-of-smartphones-to-under-16s

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Where to find SVPG:

• SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/
• Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/
• Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/
• Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/
• Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

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Where to find Christian Idiodi:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find Jon:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonmoore

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro

[00:01:11] The role of ethics in technology development

[00:05:00] Who owns ethical questions within companies?

[00:09:38] A challenging ethical scenario

[00:13:38] Why good ethics is good business

[00:18:56] The ethical landscape surrounding generative AI

[00:21:30] Who owns the ethical responsibility in AI?

[00:24:20] The importance of diversity

[00:26:51] Ethics reflection exercise

[00:27:52] Outro

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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Production:

Production by supermix.io

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG Partner, Lea Hickman delve into the critical role of trust in empowered teams. They discuss why it's essential in product work, the complex dimensions of trust, and how you can help build and maintain trust in your own organization. Hear real stories and examples of being vulnerable, investing in relationships, and building an environment that sets product teams up for success.

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In today’s discussion, we unpack:

• Why trust matters

• How to earn, build, and maintain trust

• The relationship between trust, vulnerability, making mistakes, and asking for help

• Trust dynamics with new hires

• How to break a culture of mistrust

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro

[00:01:07] Why trust matters

[00:03:40] Trust doesn't require friendship

[00:05:03] Building trust is leadership work

[00:06:21] The many dimensions of trust

[00:09:23] How vulnerability builds trust

[00:12:57] The delicate trust dynamics involved with new hires

[00:19:04] How to break a cycle of mistrust

[00:21:33] Trust is a two-way street

[00:23:06] The importance of a shared vision

[00:26:04] Building trust requires courage

[00:29:14] Outro

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References:

Christian’s onboarding programme: https://www.svpg.com/new-employee-bootcamp/

Servant leadership: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_leadership

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Where to find SVPG:

SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/-

Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/

Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/

Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/

Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

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Where to find Christian Idiodi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find Lea Hickman:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahickman/

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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Production:

Production by supermix.io

In this episode, Marty and Christian discuss product sense. Product sense is one of the most valuable traits for anyone in product. It makes someone a prime candidate for promotion, and considerably improves job satisfaction. However, while many people recognize the value of product sense, too many uphold a misconception that it is a trait you have to be born with. In fact, product sense is something you can develop by embracing the right mindsets and putting in the effort to make the most of the resources around you.

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In today’s discussion, we unpack all things product sense:

• What it is and why it matters
• The misconception that product sense is a gift you have to be born with
• How anyone can develop product sense
• The characteristics and attitudes required to develop product sense
• The rich resources available across your customers, colleagues, and industry
• Actionable tactics for developing product sense

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro

[00:00:36] Defining product sense

[00:02:55] Spotting product sense

[00:05:48] Humility

[00:09:44] Curiosity

[00:10:11] Empathy

[00:14:05] How Marty built and builds his product sense

[00:17:20] Why domain expertise is a double-edged sword

[00:20:59] How to develop the foundations of product sense

[00:23:01] Resources within your company that will help build product sense

[00:24:48] Finding the "smartest person at the company”

[00:28:11] How biographies can build product sense

[00:29:55] Outro

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References:

• Build, by Tony Fadell: https://www.amazon.com.au/Build-Unorthodox-Guide-Making-Things/dp/0063046067
• Lincoln, by David Herbert Donald: https://www.amazon.com.au/Lincoln-David-Herbert-Donald/dp/068482535X/ref=sr_1_6
• Product Sense Demystified: https://www.svpg.com/product-sense-demystified/
• Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson: https://www.amazon.com.au/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537

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Where to find SVPG:

SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/

Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/

Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/

Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/

Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

-

Where to find Christian Idiodi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find Marty Cagan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cagan/

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

In this episode, Marty and Christian discuss the mindset behind strong product teams. While there are plenty of resources around the skills used on such teams, there is a lack of resources around the attitudes underpinning their success. If you are “stuck in a feature team” these concepts will feel especially unfamiliar. However, SVPG has collected a series of case studies proving that these mindset shifts can drive outcomes across a range of industries and geographies.

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• In today’s discussion, we unpack:
• Why ideas are only 10% of product work
• Why cross-functional skills are critical
• Steve Jobs’ take on product discovery and collaboration
• The necessity of friction when collaborating
• The value of involving engineers in discovery
• How to handle disagreements
• How to win the hearts and minds of your team

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Episode Intro

[00:01:30] Steve Jobs on Product Discovery

[00:02:49] Reaction to Steve Jobs on Product Discovery

[00:06:55] How ICs can advocate for a better product model

[00:09:14] Problem discovery versus solution discovery

[00:13:43] The role of enabling technology

[00:14:35] Why cross-functional skills are critical

[00:19:55] Steve Jobs on Collaboration

[00:21:35] The necessity of friction when collaborating

[00:25:30] The importance of psychological safety and diversity of views

[00:30:55] Why outsourced engineering doesn't work

[00:34:00] The value of involving engineers in discovery

[00:36:11] How to handle disagreements

[00:39:30] Dealing with ego in disagreements

[00:41:00] The definition of “stakeholders” and advice for engaging with them

[00:45:13] How to win the hearts and minds of your team

[00:48:50] Response to: "But my company can’t do this!”

[00:52:23] Where to find SVPG resources

[00:52:34] About SVPG’s new book: Transformed

[00:54:02] Disclaimer

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References:

• Amazon’s PRFAQ: https://www.svpg.com/example-prfaq/

• Einstein quote about problem solving: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/60780-if-i-had-an-hour-to-solve-a-problem-i-
• Google’s research on effective teams: https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-emea/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/five-dynamics-effective-team
• President Kennedy’s challenge for NASA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmN1wO_24Ao&ab_channel=NASAVideo

• Steve Jobs, The Lost Interview: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/steve-jobs-the-lost-interview/umc.cmc.493j4pff9l0e7b6lbca47x2j8
  

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Where to find SVPG:

• SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/

• Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/

• Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/

• Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/

• Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

-

Where to find Christian Idiodi:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

-

Where to find Marty Cagan:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cagan/

-

Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See: https://findahelpline.com/

Welcome to SVPG's podcast! This podcast tackles challenges that aren’t discussed enough in the product world: the behavioral, cultural, and mindset issues holding most teams back. We unpack these topics through authentic conversations between SVPG partners based on real-world experience leading and coaching product companies.

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Our first episode is focused on coaching agency. Agency comes down to how strongly someone believes that they can change their circumstances. When people don’t have a sense of agency at work, they often feel helpless, unempowered, and believe “things will never change”. Agency is a difficult development area because it requires high self-awareness, and intersects with many other deep topics, such as the motivation behind people’s work and the drivers of people’s fears. Agency is an important development area for anyone in product because it is a key ingredient for unlocking a team’s full potential and doing meaningful work.

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In today’s discussion, we unpack:

• What agency means
• The symptoms of a lack of agency
• Why agency is a difficult development area
• The link between agency and “empowered teams”
• Real-life examples of coaching agency
• Why and how to “invoke care”
• How to foster agency as a leader, and as an IC
• Concrete tips for practicing stronger agency

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Episode intro

[00:00:43] Podcast intro

[00:05:38] A big caveat: we are not therapists

[00:10:37] Today's topic: agency

[00:10:58] What does agency mean?

[00:12:20] Symptoms of a lack of agency

[00:14:59] Feature teams vs empowered teams

[00:19:51] Feeling unworthy of agency

[00:20:55] How low agency can make people feel safe

[00:23:23] Product Leadership Theatre

[00:25:39] How to coach and develop an agency mindset

[00:25:52] Real-life example of coaching agency

[00:28:32] Why and how to "invoke care”

[00:34:33] Misconceptions about the role of product management

[00:37:06] How to foster agency as a leader

[00:39:30] How to develop agency as an IC

[00:42:23] How to turn these insights into action

[00:46:41] Where to find SVPG resources

[00:47:00] About SVPG’s new book: Transformed

[00:48:26] Disclaimer

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References:

Product Leadership Theater: https://www.svpg.com/product-leadership-theater/

Product Management Theater: https://www.svpg.com/product-management-theater/

Product vs Feature Teams: https://www.svpg.com/product-vs-feature-teams/

Shreyas’ comment on product leaders blaming others: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cagan_product-leadership-theater-silicon-valley-activity-7163181139476623363-MHAW

Shreyas Doshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyasdoshi/

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Where to find SVPG:

SVPG’s new book, EMPOWERED: https://www.svpg.com/books/empowered-ordinary-people-extraordinary-products/

Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/

Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/

Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/

Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

-

Where to find Christian Idiodi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find Marty Cagan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cagan/

-

Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/