Practical Ways to Increase Product Velocity

Happy Monday everyone! Lots going on in the Cleveland Product scene, so let’s get to it!

Article of the Week

Velocity gets a lot of attention in software circles. But much of attention is focused on the velocity of software engineering teams. It’s even used as an incentive to get software engineering teams to deploy more code faster.

But velocity is the responsibility of the entire Product team, which includes more than just software engineers.

A recent article by Stay SaaSy makes some valuable points on how to increase velocity of the entire Product team:

1. Remove Dependencies - We’ve seen success with teams that have the Product trio - Product, Design, and Engineering. This allows the teams to move fast because all three of these resources work closely together. But there could be other team members that need to be included as well, depending on the products you are building and the domain you are in, so make sure those other teams are represented on and dedicated to the team.

2. Demand Clear Narratives - One critical skill for Product people is story telling (see my recent article and virtual event). So have a great story to tell - using quantitative data, customer interviews, and the end goal in mind - and socialize it with all vested parties.

3. Watch Out for Important But Unpopular Products - Be focused on your ideal client profile and what your product solves for your customers. Don’t venture too far from your strategy just to chase sales. Find product-market fit, then double-down. And be sure to invest in strong product marketing, that will help you position your products and become familiar with your best customers.

I encourage you to read the entire article so you can keep that velocity as fast as possible!

Product Jobs of the Week

The Product roles at Cleveland companies keep rolling in!

• Medical Mutual - Digital Experience Product Owner and CRM Product Owner

• Barnes - Global Product Manager 

Upcoming Events

• This week - Product Lean Coffee

• January 19th - Everything I need to know about Product I Learned in the Restaurant Industry

• February 13th - Product Management in Practice - A Conversation with Matt LeMay

About the Author

My name is Shawn Leitner. I started the Cleveland Product networking group in 2017, which helps to connect Product professionals around Cleveland, providing them with a forum to network, learn, and share stories. For my day job, I'm a Product Consultant & Coach for Pathfinder Product and help clients implement strong Product practices so they can create products that their teams love building and their customers love using. Connect with me on LinkedIn or feel free to attend one of my events either virtually or in-person. Always up for meeting for a cup of coffee also!