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Product Thinking Newsletter by Melissa Perri

Engineers Need More Product Thinking

Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read

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Hi Product people,

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This week on Product Thinking, I had an enlightening conversation with Matt Watson, founder and CEO of Full Scale, and author of "Product Driven."

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We explored how product thinking can transform the role of engineers and why it's essential for fostering innovation and ownership within tech teams. Matt shared his journey from being a software engineer to leading a company, emphasizing the value of understanding the bigger picture in product development.

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"The best developers we have are the ones that ask a lot of questions, validate assumptions, and bring ideas. That takes courage. It's easy to just do what you're told, but it takes courage to speak up and push back."

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We delved into how creating a culture of courage and ownership can drive real impact and how AI is shifting the roles within tech teams, pushing engineers to adopt more product thinking. If you're keen on understanding how to empower your team and encourage a mindset that breaks out of the build trap, this episode is for you.

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Listen to the full episode to gain insights on fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best ideas.

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🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Apple | Spotify​

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Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you soon,

Melissa Perri

Founder Product Institute, Board Member, and Teacher
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You’ll hear us talk about:

  • 10:15 - Encouraging Product Thinking in Engineers

Matt discusses the importance of engineers understanding the product's broader impact, not just focusing on the technical aspects. He emphasizes the need for engineers to see themselves as part of the product team, contributing to the overall vision and strategy.

  • 22:40 - The Role of Clarity and Communication

In this segment, Matt highlights the significance of maintaining clarity in software development. He shares how regular communication and one-on-ones are essential for coaching and ensuring everyone understands the vision and scope of projects.

  • 35:55 - The Impact of AI on Engineering Roles

Matt explores how AI is transforming traditional engineering roles, pushing engineers to adopt more product thinking. He underscores the growing importance of emotional intelligence and teamwork as AI takes on more technical tasks.

Episode resources:

Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/​

Product Driven: https://productdriven.com/​

Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/about-us/​

Other Resources:

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THE PRODUCT THINKING PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY

Product Management training at scale for teams and individuals, created by Melissa Perri.

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Do you have a product dilemma you just can’t solve? Are you in need of some pointed career guidance? We’ve got a direct line to Melissa, so now’s your chance to ask her anything you’d like. You can record a voice message here, or you can submit a question via form below. Melissa just might answer it in a future Dear Melissa segment of the podcast.

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The CPO Accelerator is a members-only live virtual course for product leaders taught by Melissa Perri. The move from product leader to VP or CPO can be challenging. It takes a whole new set of skills to succeed at the next level, and you may be the first person at your company to hold this seat at the executive table.

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Product Thinking is the newsletter of Product Institute, Inc. and Melissa Perri.

Product Thinking Newsletter by Melissa Perri

All things Product Management

Subscribe to this newsletter if you are a product manager or product leader interested in leveling up your strategy, process, and insights into technology. I send out emails once a week on Wednesdays.

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