Tech Leaders Coach’s Post

𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙥 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥: 𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚 '𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨: 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩' 🚀 F͟o͟s͟t͟e͟r͟i͟n͟g͟ ͟T͟e͟a͟m͟ ͟U͟n͟i͟t͟y͟ In a cinematic crescendo, Autobots, Maximals, and humans unite against Terracons, highlighting the power of collaboration in overcoming shared challenges. Reflecting on our daily leadership journey, I have witnessed departmental or even multiple engineering team silos often breed tension. As an engineering leader, I’ve spearheaded a shift toward prioritizing company and product goals, fostering an open-source culture. Despite challenges, this transformation unifies us, turning success into a shared achievement and emphasizing accountability over blame in challenging times. L͟e͟a͟d͟e͟r͟s͟h͟i͟p͟’͟s͟ ͟C͟a͟l͟l͟ ͟f͟o͟r͟ ͟S͟a͟c͟r͟i͟f͟i͟c͟e͟:͟ The Maximal leader Apelinq’s ultimate sacrifice underscores unwavering dedication to safeguarding the key. In our corporate roles, leaders are challenged with daily decisions for the company’s greater good. Emotionally demanding choices like layoffs or restructuring are indispensable. Corporate leaders invest substantial time and effort, sacrificing personal leisure to meet deadlines and ensure project success. In startups, leaders may take unique financial risks, setting a guiding example that inspires the team to match the required dedication for success. S͟t͟r͟a͟t͟e͟g͟i͟c͟ ͟C͟o͟l͟l͟a͟b͟o͟r͟a͟t͟i͟o͟n͟ ͟w͟i͟t͟h͟ ͟T͟r͟u͟s͟t͟e͟d͟ ͟P͟a͟r͟t͟n͟e͟r͟s͟:͟ Autobots, Maximals, and Noah collaborate, relying on trust to devise a strategy against Unicorn. In our daily endeavours, this mirrors the collaboration seen in product launches. Marketing strategies, sales engage customers, the product team ensures readiness, and tech addresses technical aspects. Trust acts as the linchpin for seamless coordination and a successful launch. Similarly, trust is paramount for insightful feedback and continuous improvements in customer success. As we infuse these cinematic insights into our leadership narrative, invaluable lessons emerge on teamwork, sacrifice, dedication, and the pivotal importance of trust. Let’s weave these lessons into our daily pursuits for collective success and a more resilient, unified team. #leadership #navigatingchallenges #teamsynergy #gameon #transformers #movie #vibes

Every product is a product of an organisation of an organisation Whenever you put something out in the world, you are essentially shipping your org chart. Your culture of innovation, risk, and imagination, the way you organise work, your mindsets, processes, and team culture all directly influence what you build, create, and ship. Large organisations often try to ‘do’ innovation within existing structures and overlook culture, but the competing systems and structures are often too strong for the desired innovation to survive. (Clue: If you have a desktop full of dead decks from long-forgotten hackathons, you might not have the innovation culture you’d like.) 🧬 Innovating and disrupting within the product space must go hand in hand with innovating and disrupting the internal organisational structures. 🧬 The catch is that building (never mind changing) culture is hard. It takes sustained effort, change of habits, and adjusting of systems and processes (especially reward and recognition). It requires willingness to let teams operate and experiment (REALLY experiment) outside of existing structures and processes, and often for long periods of time and without obvious KPIs. 💡Culture is an antidote to commoditised innovation theatre. (And many of us have seen what happens when startups grow up; they (can) become less innovative, which then creates cultural tensions with those who have been there since the ‘good old days’ and now find themselves penned in by rigid policies and processes). Build the right mindsets ➡️ new ways of organising will emerge ➡️ new offerings will emerge. 🧠 Have you seen culture catalyse innovation success? What was there that enabled success, and how did that become part of the culture? 🧠 ___________ This week, Steph Clarke and I are posting some more of the conversations we’ve been having on the current state of design and the future, and the overlay with innovation and organisational culture. This is post 1 of 3. Over the next two posts we’ll share more about some of the methodologies that can supplement the culture work needed to push against innovation theatre. Follow along by connecting with us, or by following hashtag #JanAndStephDesignWhatsNext

Strategic Iteration: How to Drive Innovation in a Competitive Landscape In a rapidly evolving market, companies that fail to iterate risk falling behind. The key to staying competitive isn't just in the big, bold ideas—it's in the continuous refinement and evolution of those ideas. Strategic iteration is more than a process; it's a mindset that must be embedded in every level of an organization. Leaders today face the task of not only innovating, but also creating an atmosphere in which iterative thinking is the norm. Strategic iteration transforms how businesses approach innovation. It shifts the focus from achieving perfection to making steady, incremental progress. This approach allows companies to adapt quickly to market changes, customer feedback, and emerging trends. Leaders who embrace iteration ensure their teams remain agile, turning small wins into significant advancements. Key Takeaways: 💡 Iteration as a Strategic Tool: Use iteration not just as a method for product development but as a core strategic tool. This approach enables your organization to respond swiftly to market shifts and maintain a competitive edge. 💡 Continuous Learning: Iterative processes foster a culture of continuous learning. By regularly testing and refining ideas, your teams can quickly identify what works and what doesn’t, ensuring your innovations are always aligned with customer needs. 💡 Empowering Teams: Strategic iteration thrives in environments where teams feel empowered to take risks and learn from outcomes. Encourage your teams to experiment, gather feedback, and apply those insights to drive meaningful innovation. Call to Action: ☑ Evaluate Your Current Processes: Identify where your organization can implement iterative cycles, whether in product development, marketing strategies, or customer engagement. ☑ Empower Your Teams: Create a culture that values experimentation and rapid learning. Equip your teams with the tools and autonomy to iterate and improve continuously. ☑ Align Iteration with Strategy: Ensure that every iteration aligns with your broader strategic goals. This alignment will turn incremental improvements into significant competitive advantages. Strategic iteration is more than just being relevant; it's about leading the market by constantly changing and improving. Make iteration a cornerstone of your strategy, and watch your innovations not just survive but thrive. #Strategy #Leadership #ActionableInsights #CompetitiveIntelligence Transform your strategy with intelligence-driven insights to foresee market changes and stay ahead of the competition. Visit us at Actelligos.com or reach us at insights@actelligos.com

A culture that fosters resilience in the face of challenges and empowers teams to adapt swiftly to evolving circumstances, ultimately enhancing the chances of success, is what will succeed. "We don't just hire specialists - we build teams of 'athletes,'" says Bill Haskell, Innventure CEO. "These agile professionals can adapt to any challenge, driving innovation at breakneck speed." This athlete mindset is more than a metaphor; it's a paradigm-shifting methodology for next-generation enterprises in the unpredictable world of breakthrough innovation. Here's why it works: 1.) Adaptability in Uncertain Environments 2.) Rapid Learning and Problem-Solving 3.) Resilience in the Face of Setbacks 4.) Cross-Functional Collaboration As we continue to refine this model, we invite you to join the conversation. How are you redefining team dynamics in your organization? What unconventional traits do you value in your innovators? Let's collaborate to push the boundaries of what's possible in team building and, by extension, in innovation itself. The future belongs to those who can not only adapt to change but create it. At Innventure, that future is now. #innovationleadership #teamdynamics #innovationstrategy #leadershipdevelopment

The #1 innovation mistake 🚫 Failing to look at the future. Don't let past success lead you into a comfort zone where you're not looking at what's next. Here are 3 ways to stay ahead: 1. Foresight - Seeing what's coming - Anticipating the future - Spotting trends 2. Experimentation - Trying new things - Taking risks - Embracing failures 3. Collaboration - Combining skills - Building teams - Sharing knowledge The world is changing fast. Make sure you and your team are looking ahead, experimenting with new things, and collaborating to stay ahead of the competition. Success is around the corner: take the leap!

Does founder-mode swing the pendulum back to HiPPo behavior vs. evidence-backed/data-driven ways of working? A big part of founder-mode is founders who operate from a place of strong internal conviction. So how does that play together with product discovery and experimentation? Are they at odds? Innovation needs tension and nuance. We can’t come up with anything truly new by following a straight, scientific line. We need to do creative, weird, unexpected things - and founder mode does allow for that. But we’re also opening the backdoor to leaders that aren’t necessarily the smartest but the louderst, making claims of founder-mode. Is this the moment where product discovery and experimentation get buried on the agile-graveyard, and founder-mode takes over..?

Thinking today: “anything is possible”. One of my today’s meetings about building and launching a completely new product reminded me about this phrase. I had a former colleague who used this phrase quite casually, and got some serious shade from people around him. I was one who took that phrase to heart. “Anything is possible” is not about living in a pipe dream, or having unfounded expectations on what can be achieved. Rather “anything is possible” is about being consciously open to opportunities, driving and seizing them proactively and maximizing their potential. And for a leader, to enable and empower the people around them to make that approach to drive actions and desicion making on a daily basis. Such attitude is crucial for driving innovation or building a startup. On both cases, for pushing the boundaries on what can and should be. In its core pulses endless curiosity, that enables one to see the possibilities, opportunities and options, instead of problems, obstacles and constraints. I was again today reminded and inspired by this simple yet multidimensional phrase. Forwards. #innovation #design #ai #productdesign #productdevelopment #team #leadership

A topic very close to my heart, is creating a culture of innovation in organisations. 🚀 In my years driving culture change, I’ve learned that fostering innovation isn’t just about big, flashy ideas. It’s about embracing failure, building trust, and making space for some serious creative chaos (and I’ve definitely had my fair share of “herding cats” moments! 🐱) And I've had more than the odd failure along the way, too, like the time I confidently suggested an ‘innovative’ idea in a meeting, only to realise I was suggesting something the team had already been doing for years 💩 👞 🤦♂️. Or when I kicked off a corporate “Innovation Week” by hosting what I thought was the ultimate creative icebreaker—everyone had to build something out of LEGO to represent their biggest challenge at work. I was expecting all these deep, thoughtful insights. Instead, I got a perfect LEGO coffee machine, a fully-constructed beach scene (complete with mini umbrellas and, erm... shark? Imagine an office environment where a shark is your biggest challenge??), and one guy who built… a wall. Literal silence. Apparently, over-thinking was the biggest challenge. We didn’t get far with the LEGO masterpieces, but the laughter that followed broke the ice perfectly—and opened the door to some real conversations later. Often, even the so-called “failures” do their job in unexpected ways. So if you've got a story of your own about failure, I'd love to hear it. And if innovation culture sparks your interest, check out my post below where I dive into some practical tips, sprinkled with a few slightly humorous or at least slightly interesting (I'm setting the bar deliberately low) anecdotes from my journey. #innovation #culturechange #leadership #failure

Have you recently taken on a turnaround? So often you'll find a talented product team that is no longer performing. What do you do? Read our latest post for some thoughts and suggestions. https://lnkd.in/g-eR4dZg #productleadership #innovation #turnaroundstrategy #productledgrowth #productmanagement

Harness Constraints to Cultivate Innovation Constraints can appear restrictive, but they’re actually a powerful driver of innovation. When we work within limits, we’re pushed to explore new avenues and devise creative solutions that we might not have otherwise. At MotiveFate LLC, we believe in the power of constraints to fuel growth. Here’s how you can leverage them: 1. Simplify Processes: Use constraints to streamline and enhance efficiency. 2. Drive Focus: Let limitations guide you toward what’s truly important. 3. Foster Innovation: Constraints encourage out-of-the-box thinking. 4. Challenge Assumptions: Question existing norms and explore new possibilities. 5. Rapid Experimentation: Use constraints to test and iterate quickly. Constraints aren’t obstacles—they’re opportunities for growth. 🔗 Join MotiveFate LLC in embracing constraints as a pathway to innovation. #MotiveFateLLC #VeteranBusiness #Motivation #Speaker #Inspire #Dreams