You've adopted new product management processes. Now what?
This week's topic: How to improve and expand product management related processes within your org.
You’re starting a new work week fresh off reading all those fancy books like Marty Cagan’s “Inspired.” You’ve decided that you will start changing how your teams have been operating with goals like shortening time to market or improving the team’s velocity. You work through some ideas, roll these changes out to the team, and then hope and pray things improve.
It’s important to remember that even though you’ve launched the new processes, we’re just at the beginning of the journey. The real magic happens when you continually refine and optimize these processes to ensure they serve your team in the best way possible.
Let’s review a few things to consider post-launch of your new system/ways of working within your teams.
Continuous Improvement and Optimization
Once your processes are in place, keeping an eye on them is important. Think of it like a garden - you've planted the seeds, but now you need to water them, pull out any weeds, and ensure they're getting enough sunlight. Regularly checking in with your team is a great way to ensure your processes grow and thrive.
In addition to regular check-ins, actively seeking feedback from your team is crucial. Ask them how they're finding the new processes. Are they helping? Are there any roadblocks? Your team's feedback is invaluable because they're the ones using these processes every day. By observing how your team works and listening to their experiences, you can identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments.
Measuring Your Process
How do you know if your processes are really working? That's where Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) come in. These are like the yardsticks you use to measure how well your processes are doing. For example, you could look at team productivity. Are tasks getting done faster? Are people able to handle more work?
Another KPI could be the quality of work. Are there fewer mistakes? Is the product better than before? By tracking these metrics, you can see where your processes are shining and where they might need a little polish. Remember, the goal isn't to achieve perfection but to continually improve and make things better than they were before.
Showcasing Your Successes
When you start seeing improvements, don't keep it to yourself. Share your successes with other teams. Maybe they're struggling with something your team has overcome. By sharing your wins, you're helping others and showing the value of your process.
And who knows - your process might become the new standard way of working in your organization. It's not just about improving your own team's performance but also about contributing to the overall success of your org. Outside of these benefits, you’re also making a sweet bullet point for your resume and a great story to tell in the future.
Have you been meaning to pick up the latest copy of Marty Cagan’s “Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love, Second Edition”? I have a link for you here to check it out. Any book purchases sent from this link send a few cents my way, so feel free to check it out. Appreciate you!
Final Thoughts
Establishing processes and continually improving them is a journey, not a destination. It's about creating an environment where your team can do their best work. And when you start seeing the fruits of your labor, don't forget to share your successes. You never know who you might inspire.
Now, over to you. Have you implemented any process changes in your organization? How did it go? Did you face any challenges? How did you overcome them? We'd love to hear your stories and learn from your experiences.
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Love the point on measuring success for your processes. This is a step that’s easily forgotten. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼