The Daily Dichotomies of Product Leadership




roduct leaders are empowered to take on a lot of responsibility for the feature, function or domain area assigned to them. Yet, it is far more common for Product Leaders to doubt their own capabilities and decision-making skills.
As a result, product leaders often find themselves being pulled in so many different directions, often feeling as if they could have been in the same position if they did not make any decision at all!

Here are some common juxtaposing positions I’ve often found myself in during my Product leadership career, and some tips that may help you navigate them.
Significant externalities (e.g., the global financial crisis of 2008, and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020), have asked leaders to completely overhaul their business models and underlying product strategies to survive.

So, how does one know which parts of their vision and strategy should never change, and which parts should change to adapt to shorter term priorities to ensure longer-term viability? The answer lies in how well your vision was crafted, and whether it aligns with what Simon Sinek explores to as your “just cause”, a cause for which you would never budge from, one where you…