Successful product leaders use workshopping to develop strategy, roadmaps, and anything else where input and feedback are valuable. A workshop can set a group on a great path forward, but it can also suffer from tangential conversations, people who don’t participate, or disrespectful behavior. Encourage frank but respectful engagement by setting ground rules beforehand. Below are a few. In the spirit of co-creation, you can even ask if any attendees would like to add to the list.
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Assume positive intent - We all want to solve this problem, even if we approach it differently.
Disagree - Share what you think honestly, even if you believe others will disagree.
Admit your biases - If you prefer an option for personal reasons, it’s okay to say so.
No multitasking - Everyone is expected to be mentally present for the work.
More sample ground rules in Chapter 5, Roadmaps, from Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders.But how often should you update your roadmap? Here are some guidelines:
Speak
Melissa Appel and I will be speaking at Product Head's online event, on Building Bridges, Not Barriers, January 16.
I'm in London
I'll be joining The Product Group meetup, chatting about Product in 2025, January 9.
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