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Randeep Sidhu: Why Products Fail: The Unspoken ...

Turing Fest
July 22, 2024
5

Randeep Sidhu: Why Products Fail: The Unspoken Price of Progress

"Most of us find change hard, and group dynamics often exacerbate this resistance. Nonetheless, we all know that succesful products need to be constantly evolving. The friction between these two realities can cause huge, even existential problems on product teams.
In this talk, Randeep explores the causes of this friction, looks at how to resolve it to move products and people forward, and also imparts key tactics for avoiding the unspoken cost that can often be paid by the person doing the necessary work of challenging the existing product thinking. "

Turing Fest

July 22, 2024
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  1. Randeep Sidhu … and the unspoken price of progress (and

    saving the world!) Why products fail
  2. Life and Death Decisions Lessons From a Pandemic CPO 3

    Randeep Sidhu Former Director, NHS C19 app LAST YEAR
  3. A product you build will kill someone. A decision you

    make will kill someone. What will you do to make sure your conscience is clear?
  4. What I do: Chief Product Officer Product Director / Lead

    Product Director Non-Profit Advising Strategy Consultant Non Exec Board Director Non Exec Board Observer
  5. x2 x2 x4 🖤 💛🤎 🖤 June 2020 NHS App

    fails June 2020 I get series of urgent calls
  6. • App averted 1 million infections • App saved 10,000

    lives Built in 6 weeks Had a huge impact
  7. If these people don’t want to work with us, what

    can we do? It’s not our fault, these people are not listening
  8. 1. Needs to be liked 2. Defend the status quo

    – keep things as they are 3. Reactive 4. Comfortable - Don’t look to improve 1. Don’t need to be liked 2. Challenge the status quo – know today is not perfect 3. Proactive 4. Striving – want to improve things Villain s Heroes 2 different types of people: LET’S STAND UP
  9. Villains challenge the status quo They want CHANGE The issue

    is their evil methods *Killmonger having a birthday party
  10. People reached out - Worked for some After the 2023

    talk… - Did lots of thinking - Failed for others - Did lots of research
  11. I spoke for a reason Threshold to speak Facts Experience

    Extra caution Feel I’m right Am I correct? Embarrassed? Permission? Get Punished?
  12. “I never said it, but you made a great point”

    “John” from group messaged me Threshold to speak Facts Experience Extra caution Feel I’m right Am I correct? Embarrassed? Permission? Get Punished?
  13. “You made a great point Randeep” John became my ‘minion’

    “You are so right, keep it up!” “I wish I had your confidence” I feel guilty I didn’t say anything “That’s ok!” ???...
  14. The more push back I got – the more powerful

    I was More truth to power More discomfort More pressure into system!
  15. Over time I felt more and more awesome BUT the

    issues I raised stopped improving…
  16. Minions will never speak up GUILT? I don’t need to

    feel guilty for being quiet I’m the person that highlights issues. It’s what I’m valued for! Threshold to speak
  17. I’m think I’m being a positive disruptor Being independent Changing

    the system from outside John needs me to speak. I’m set up as a negative force I’m predicted and expected I’m part of this whole system. I’m on the inside!
  18. Management see ME as a villain •Squeaky wheel •Expected and

    ignored •I RELISH THIS •I JUST PUSH HARDER
  19. I challenge the status quo I’m a villain Somone defeats

    me They become THE HERO The villain is gone Status quo resumes
  20. What’s the end of the story? We had a series

    of product managers that didn’t understand our business This whole industry has a retention problem, people can’t hack it This leader was too disruptive so didn’t work out Not all can cope with our startup culture The product team are a problem. They keep complaining... But they do have a point… “We got rid of them”
  21. Unspoken price of progress You are right but have to

    be defeated for them to maybe see MAGNETO WAS RIGHT!
  22. Act like you are inside the system Some smaller practical

    steps* Don’t try and change everything at once Be silent and empower others to talk *backed by research and less frivolous then these slides seem
  23. Practical tips: 1 Work from Inside 2 Tactical Silence 3

    Empower others 4 Use deviance credit
  24. Practical tips: 1 Work from Inside 2 Tactical Silence 3

    Empower others 4 Use deviance credit
  25. Connect or come to round table for stories, Q’s, advice

    and research! Randeep Sidhu Thank you!