COURAGE
Doing the hard things as a product leader
YI-WEI ANG, CPO @ talabat (Delivery Hero)
February 2023
If you are not willing to fail; you can’t innovate
If you are not willing to build a vulnerable culture; you can’t create
Brene Brown
Best products come from teams that make courageous bets
“The purpose of the product team is to serve
customers by creating products customers love, yet
work for the business.” (Cagan)
Why is it so hard?
(Product) Leaders are expected to have clarity and
conviction, even in the face of deep unknowns.
My journey as
an exhausted Product Leader battling imposter syndrome
Courage to not know the answer
Courage to do the customer centric thing
Courage to be wrong
Courage to take an unconventional bet
Courage to pull the plug
Courage to say what needs to be said
Courage to build it the right way
My 8 month old’s journey
in learning how to stand up
😀
First, work on yourself
Check your ego
Build the vulnerability muscle
Be the curious one, for they are never cynical
Then, work on your organization
Repeat after me: It’s OK to be imperfect.
With your team, try these things:
Model authentic vulnerability
Encourage each other to jump
Never leave things unsaid
Repetition matters
When you embrace the struggle, you’ll gain the individual and collective
wisdom that makes this your culture
When that culture is built, work will never be the same again
On this topic,
There is no fake it till you make it
Lean into the things that make you uncomfortable. For that is what
makes the journey worthwhile.