The Recipe for Great Products: Collaboration, Learning, and Empathy

Having worn the hat of both a product manager and a product marketer, I’ve sat in countless meetings, brainstormed with myriad teams, and seen firsthand what makes or breaks a product.

There is a reason we often say product managers are not responsible for “coming up” with ideas — it’s about how those ideas are cultivated through collaboration.

With that in mind, I decided to write down a few thoughts about collaboration and setting up teams for success.

Rethinking “Move Fast and Break Things”

“Move fast and break things” might sound cool on a hoodie, but in practice? Not so much. Speed is fantastic, but only when it’s combined with purpose and clarity. I’ve seen teams zip through projects, only to later discover overlooked errors or mismatched goals. That’s why I’m a bigger fan of “learn fast.”

Moving with direction and intention is far more important than moving with speed. Agility and responsiveness are important, but if you have no direction, you’re moving toward a wall very, very quickly. And the evidence backs this up: McKinsey’s findings have indicated that learning-focused organizations display enhanced innovation and adaptability.

It’s Not Just About “Getting Shit Done”

Hearing “We need to get shit done (GSD)” is all too common. I even have a shirt that proudly states “GET SHIT DONE!” and I love it (thank you Shopify!)

But GSD comes at a cost. If team members are pushing ahead but feeling unheard or unsafe, it’s a recipe for burnout and missed opportunities. Remember Google’s Project Aristotle? They pinpointed psychological safety as a key factor for top-performing teams:

Psychological safety: Can we take risks on this team without feeling insecure or embarrassed?

Dependability: Can we count on each other to do high quality work on time?

Structure & clarity: Are goals, roles, and execution plans on our team clear?

Meaning of work: Are we working on something that is personally important for each of us?

Impact of work: Do we fundamentally believe that the work we’re doing matters?

Why Vulnerability, Empathy, and Feedback Matter

From my time working in product and product marketing, I have learned that cross-collaboration is key for teams looking to gain both empowerment and autonomy.

A truly collaborative team will work with three key pillars in mind:

1. Vulnerability: No one has all the answers. When I’ve owned up to my gaps, it opened doors for others to do the same and for us to find solutions together.

   
   

2. Empathy: I’ve sat across from devs, designers, and salespeople. Understanding their viewpoints has often been the difference between a product hiccup and a product win.

   
   

3. Feedback: This isn’t a one-off; it’s an ongoing conversation. The more we’ve embraced it, the better our products have become.

Conclusion

“Learning fast” is where it’s at. Toss in genuine collaboration backed by vulnerability, empathy, and feedback, and you’ve got the golden recipe. Let’s prioritize our teams’ psychological well-being, stay focused, and truly collaborate. That’s how we make great products together.