You're leading a team in product innovation. How can you build trust among members?

According to Merriam-Webster, vision is defined as, “the act of power of imagination.” When you apply vision to the future, you can create a mental picture that can be used to direct your actions. Vision serves as a guide and can be A beacon for the team going into uncharted territory. What are the steps to develop a clear vision for your team's long-term goals? Understand your purpose. Assess your current situation. Envision your desired future. Articulate your vision statement. Communicate your vision. Review and update your vision.

A well-crafted vision serves as a guide for the team and aligns their efforts towards a common goal. It not only articulates the purpose and value of the work but also communicates the anticipated impact on customers and stakeholders. A few consideration points that help create a vision are: the purpose of the product the value it delivers to stakeholders (inc customers) the impact on the stakeholder alignment with the company strategy and lastly, how you can communicate these clearly and repeatably

Here are 3 simple ways to build trust & strong vision: 1. Build a shared vision: Invite key stakeholders to define the vision of your project or company. Encourage and nudge everyone to co-create. This will create a sense of belonging and ownership. 2. Establish rules and invite role models to share stories. Stories are a powerful way to define what is right. 3. Establish Strategic Transparency: This will drive trust and provide a foundation for decision-making as time progresses. These steps will help you build trust and allow the vision to evolve positively over time.

I learned this from The Golden Circle by Simon Sinek: when starting a team for a project, always begin by asking 'why'. Why are we doing what we are doing? Define your objective and the vision you hope to achieve with the project. Remember, people buy into things because they believe in why you do it, not just what you do.

Just defining the vision yourself / with the organisational leaders is not adequate. We even need to co-evolve it with our teams. Just involving them in the innovation process is not enough. Ownership comes from co-evolving. Many times, the team members' contributions to the vision may not be significant but even engaging them in the process of defining it and relating what is finally defined to their inputs gives a sense of comfort and engagement.

To build trust in your innovation team, start with a clear, exciting vision for your project. Explain why your product matters, how it aligns with your company's goals, and the impact it aims to have. This clarity motivates your team, guiding everyone towards the same goal and fostering a strong sense of unity and purpose.

Doesn't matter how good your vision, mission, strategy is until you create and establish your credibility. It's not only about success of the product but how well you take along your stakeholders along with the product. "Getting it done" - is the only and straight way of building trust.

To build trust in your innovation team, go beyond technical skills. Train them as solutionists, not solo players, fostering collaboration and shared responsibility. Create a space for open communication where everyone feels heard. Celebrate successes together and learn from failures openly. This solutionist mindset, open communication, and growth focus will empower your team to innovate with trust.

Lead by example by demonstrating transparency, integrity, and accountability in your actions and decisions as a leader. Be honest and upfront with your team about project goals, timelines, and expectations, and share relevant information and updates in a timely manner. Admit mistakes and take responsibility for them, showing humility and a willingness to learn and improve.

Craft a vision that not only guides product development but also inspires your team, creating a shared purpose that fuels innovation and fosters a sense of collective achievement.

Involve your team in every step, from ideation to implementation. Encourage open communication, welcome their ideas, and empower them to make decisions. Recognize their efforts and celebrate achievements together. Provide support for their growth and development, showing that you value their expertise and trust their abilities.

1. Encourage team members to share their ideas and suggestions for product innovation. 2. Create a culture of open and honest communication where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, concerns, and challenges. 3. Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and achievements of team members 4. Encourage collaboration and teamwork by creating cross-functional teams and encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration across departments. 5. Demonstrate trustworthiness and integrity in your actions and decisions. Lead by example by being transparent, accountable, and fair in your dealings with team members. 6. Encourage team members to provide feedback 7. Act on this feedback by making improvements and changes

Empower team members by giving them ownership and autonomy over their respective areas of expertise within the product innovation process. Delegate tasks and responsibilities based on individual strengths and skills, allowing team members to take ownership of their contributions and make meaningful decisions. Provide guidance and support when needed, but trust your team members to execute their tasks effectively and independently. Empowering team members instills a sense of accountability and confidence, fostering trust in their capabilities and judgment.

Acredito muito nesse pilar de envolvimento do time no processo de inovação de qualquer projeto. O que procuro fazer é sempre munir o time com o propósito das coisas, o problema que queremos resolver e cada um vai participando e descobrindo como pode colaborar para que aquele problema seja resolvido. Geralmente fazemos seções de brainstorm onde todos podem colaborar com ideias e depois todos votamos nas ideias que acreditamos que vai resolver o problema.

Empower your team by fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are not just valued but actively sought, leveraging the collective intelligence for comprehensive problem-solving.

Cultivating a culture of openness and honesty through effective communication prevents misunderstandings and promotes collaboration. In navigating the complexities of product innovation, clear and empathetic communication is the bridge that connects and aligns your team toward shared goals.

Encourage accountability by holding regular meetings or checkpoints to review progress, discuss roadblocks, and identify solutions collaboratively. Transparency builds trust by demonstrating honesty and integrity, while accountability ensures that team members feel responsible for their contributions and committed to achieving shared objectives.

Eu uso um modelo chamado RFC (request for coment) uma estrutura que traz 4 pilares essenciais: 1. cenário atual: o que está acontecendo agora, quais são as dores atuais da empresa/mercado 2. então alguma coisa aconteceu: aqui o relato é se tem algo que está impactando o business ou os clientes, como uma nova tecnologia, concorrente; 3. portanto precisamos fazer isso: aqui é que a ideia é vendida, geralmente é aqui que eu apresento as hipóteses que devem ser validadas; 4. no futuro a situação será assim: se as hipóteses forem validadas então teremos o seguinte cenário (aqui eu apresento o que o sucesso irá parecer, se a hipótese for validada e geralmente trago a estimativa de impacto financeiro);

Effective communication involves understanding the expectations others have of you and, in turn, what expectations you have of others. A helpful tool or workshop with your team could be to run a roles & responsibilities workshop. The outcome is a clearly defined matrix that links roles to expectations.

Effective communication is the linchpin of product management. Clearly articulate goals, strategies, and progress, ensuring that every team member understands their role in achieving the overarching vision.

Acredito fortemente que este é um dos principais pilares. Em times fortes, a colaboração acontece naturalmente, pois o ambiente, o formato de trabalho e a soma dos fatores de visão alinhada e cultura organizacional já propiciam isso. Existem diversas formas de incentivar a colaboração, e algumas delas são: - Reconhecimento frequente por resultados menores - Comemoração e celebração em equipe de conquistas - Vender as conquistas sempre como realização do time, explicitamente - Criar um ambiente de confiança, onde todos se sintam livres e acolhidos, através de feedbacks realistas e frequentes, formais e também informais, de dia a dia

It's easy to take a task and work on it for efficiency. However, when it comes to innovation, it hinders true creativity. By facilitating input from others, we as leaders can guide collaboration through the innovation journey. Sometimes, though, you may face a situation where you have loud people and shy people on your team. A favourite tool of mine to create a level playing field where everyone feels listened to is 'together alone.' By using post-it notes (silently) to capture people's thoughts, we get all ideas out of the heads and form a structure around the workshop to effectively collaborate.

Innovation thrives in environments where collaboration is nurtured. By fostering collaboration within your product innovation team, you cultivate a rich ecosystem of ideas, perspectives, and expertise. Collaborative efforts amplify creativity, stimulate innovation, and drive productivity. Moreover, collaboration instills a sense of unity and shared purpose, fostering trust among team members. Embracing collaboration not only enhances the quality of outcomes but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth.

Encourage a culture of radical transparency within the team, where failures are openly discussed and celebrated as learning opportunities, fostering an environment of trust and vulnerability. Implement a "reverse mentoring" program where junior team members are empowered to mentor senior leaders on emerging trends and technologies, breaking down traditional hierarchies and fostering mutual respect. Organize team-building experiences in unconventional settings, such as wilderness retreats or artistic workshops, where members can collaborate outside their usual roles, building bonds based on shared experiences rather than job titles.

In the dynamic realm of large-tech firms, successful product managers break down departmental barriers, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that accelerates innovation and adapts swiftly to market changes. Break down silos, promoting cross-functional partnerships that amplify creativity and problem-solving capabilities.

Leading by example" is a technique that I use while leading teams. This approach helps team members relate to a real person, rather than just discussing a theoretical model. It builds trust, instills confidence in the team and encourages collaboration, as team members feel that the concept is being put into practice.

As a product leader, embody the ethos of innovation. Lead by example, showcasing adaptability, a hunger for continuous improvement, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, setting the benchmark for your team to follow.

Esse pilar de liderar pelo exemplo é muito real. Temos cerimônias semanais com o time em que apresentamos dados, reclamações dos clientes, dores e outros estudos para que todos engajados de quais são as dores que nossos clientes estão passando e como estamos resolvendo ou impactando o dia a dia deles. Apresentar e ter clareza das dores dos clientes é uma forma de liderar pelo exemplo.