Happy Wednesday! It’s the middle of the week and time is just moving quick for me.
How about you? How has your week been so far?
I’m making good progress learning Python this week. I’ve completed 1/3 of the exercises in “Learning Python the Hard Way.”
As I continue to build a new skill, I’m reminded that highly effective product development teams do the same.
Building new skills inside a team is an indicator of cohesive teamwork. Using adaptive ways of working (like scrum), teams are encouraged to become MORE cross-functional as they work together on a product.
Cross-functional teams can make progress on work when uncertainty makes an appearance.
Family member ill? The team has it covered.
Vacation time? The team flexes to meet their commitments, covering the gap.
Flat tire, coming into the office? Same as above, team members pick-up and move work forward.
Being cross-functional takes an “all-in” belief that the team can and will figure how to get work done.
P.S. Does your organization encourage and supports cross-functional teams? Please comment and share your experience.
What outcomes do I own?
That is such a tough question to answer. I write this as I consider many outcomes are influenced by the actions of people around me.
Defining desired outcomes is a key part of successful product development.
When effective teamwork happens, we create an entire experience for our clients and customers to enjoy.
Getting feedback quickly from our clients and customers helps us achieve the desired outcomes, as they are part of co-creating products.
The Scrum framework enables feedback through its easy-to-understand and straightforward approach, as well as its values.
Taken together, high performing teams can achieve outcomes by having approaches and tools they can use to adjust their ways of work as change happens.
The photos below are from Friday morning. I achieved two outcomes from the start of the business day.
Can you guess which ones I achieved? 😉
What do you have planned for the day?
Please share in the comment below and connect with someone in the process.
This is my product development thought for today.
“The way to get good ideas is to get plenty of ideas, and throw the bad ones away.” – Dr. Linus Pauling
Try to avoid holding on to ideas that may not add, create, or enhance value as you solve problems for people with your product.
Teamwork is necessary when deciding on which ideas to remove from your product list (backlog).
Take time to speak with customers, people who use your product, before letting go of the ideas.
🎉 Celebrate, I mean REALLY celebrate, decluttering your product priorities list (backlog).
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