How To Do The Product Review Right (By Doing It Wrong) | Lenny & Friends Summit 2024

Why Are Traditional Product Review Strategies Flawed?

Conventional product review strategies often emphasize decision-making as the primary goal. This approach can lead to anxiety and broken communication lines.

In many cases, product managers (PMs) are taught to deliver structured, linear presentations. This involves laying out background and context before getting to the main point. However, this can result in audiences tuning out, as they lose interest before reaching the critical conclusions.

Reviews should also focus on interactive engagement. Traditional approaches often ignore the importance of building trust with key stakeholders, which is essential for long-term success.

PMs may become too focused on covering all bases, fearing that they'll miss crucial details. This can result in overload, where the audience retains little information, ultimately weakening the impact of the presentation.

Understanding that stakeholders are human, with limited attention and emotional motivations, allows PMs to tailor their presentations accordingly. Breaking away from conventional methods that don't prioritize stakeholder trust can lead to missed opportunities and hinder progress.

Therefore, for more effective outcomes, it is crucial to rethink traditional review strategies and prioritize building trust over merely making decisions.

How Can Starting with the Punchline Enhance Engagement?

• Immediate Engagement: Kicking off with a main recommendation or controversial point grabs everyone's attention instantly. Audiences become more intrigued and attentive.

• Focus on Key Issues: Addressing critical points early helps participants focus on what's truly vital, steering the discussion towards meaningful dialogue.

• Spark Active Participation: By setting the stage with spicy content, you encourage vibrant debates and discussions, ensuring that attendees are more involved.

• Reduce Distractions: Quick access to contentious or significant topics reduces the temptation for executives to multitask or lose focus.

• Guide the Narrative: Taking control of the narrative from the start ensures the conversation remains relevant and aligned with the session's primary objectives.

This approach keeps stakeholders engaged, aligns discussions with key priorities, and enhances overall effectiveness during product reviews. For more on capturing and maintaining audience attention, explore insights on ensuring insightfulness and entertainment value in content.

What Role Does Creating a Meme Play in Product Reviews?

Incorporating memorable and viral internal memes can create a buzz around a product idea, making it more memorable and exciting within the company.

Making your concept viral internally can ignite interest and conversation, where even quirky terms can captivate everyone's imagination. For example, internally naming Figma Slides as "Flides" sparked enthusiasm and curiosity across the organization.

Viral memes foster a sense of community and shared purpose. They encourage participation from various team members, uniting them under a common language that makes the product feel like their own.

Additionally, memorable memes can signify underlying user needs. When a stat or concept captures stakeholders' attention, it emphasizes that the product addresses a genuine pain point.

In essence, crafting compelling internal memes harnesses the power of organic sharing, transforming product presentations into memorable narratives that rally teams together.

Why Should PMs Share Their Gut Feelings?

Sharing initial thoughts during product reviews carries several benefits. Here are a few reasons why PMs should embrace this practice:

• Accelerate Alignment: Communicating gut feelings can quickly align team members. It reveals assumptions early and fosters immediate discussion.

• Eliminate Wait Time: Offering an initial perspective helps sidestep potential delays. It enables faster decision-making by bringing potential issues to light promptly.

• Create a Safe Space: Encouraging raw ideas builds a culture where sharing is valued, supporting creativity and innovation.

• Facilitate Understanding: Sharing candid thoughts can clarify intentions. It makes it easier to adjust directions as necessary without misinterpretations.

Embracing this approach means recognizing and leveraging the benefits of prompt, open communication in fostering effective product reviews.

How Does Addressing Downsides Build Trust?

Acknowledging potential downsides in product reviews fosters transparency and trust among stakeholders. By admitting areas of concern, a presenter demonstrates thorough analysis and genuine self-scrutiny. This openness reassures stakeholders that decisions aren't taken lightly, but rather with careful consideration of all potential risks.

Showing skepticism in one's own ideas challenges the status quo, prompting deeper inquiry and reinforcing credibility. It invites constructive input from others, enriching the decision-making process with diverse perspectives. This approach not only builds trust but also encourages a culture of honesty and improvement.

Incorporating both the strengths and weaknesses of an idea allows for more balanced and informed discussions, ultimately leading to more robust outcomes. By addressing potential downsides upfront, you lay the groundwork for stronger alignment and consensus among team members.

What Is the True Goal of a Product Review?

The ultimate goal of a product review transcends simple decision-making.

Building trust is pivotal for long-term success. Rather than focusing solely on choosing between options, product reviews should aim to foster confidence among stakeholders.

"It's the trust that will carry you all the way, not just the decisions."

This approach not only accelerates alignment but also paves the way for freer and more innovative collaboration.

When stakeholders are confident in leadership and the process, they engage more openly, resulting in better insights and more impactful outcomes.

Emphasizing trust over decisions empowers product teams to move forward with assurance and clarity.