Jul 17, 2023
"How We Roll" Team Activity
Looking for a team-building activity that's both enjoyable and beneficial for fostering better connections and understanding among your team? Well, let me share with you an activity called "How We Roll" that originally came from the book "Team Up" by Keegan Luiters. Then I made a couple of tweaks to the template and the activity to make it even mor...
Jul 9, 2023
The Future of Product Managers
The news of product managers being removed from teams at companies like Dovetail and Airbnb has generated intrigue and speculation about the future of this role. Some argue that successful products can be developed without product managers. However, whether to include or exclude product managers depends on various factors, including company cultur...
Jul 3, 2023
A Start-Up Morning Routine
Working from home has become increasingly common, especially in the era of small, remote-first start-ups. But remote work can be hard! Particularly when it comes to fostering team cohesion and maintaining a sense of connection. Here at Backpocket, we have 3 team members who work remotely on a full-time basis and our morning routine helps us build...
Apr 24, 2023
Ambiguity & Decision Making
Navigating ambiguity can be one of the toughest parts of making product decisions. The sense of ambiguity is often more intense in startups, where there is a new problem space or niche to explore, no users or customers, no strategy in place, and fewer people on the team to speak with. If you are a product person in a startup, you are probably on ...
Apr 16, 2023
Agile vs Strategy
The word "agile" is now everywhere in the business world these days. It's been overused. It's almost lost its meaning. It might even trigger you. Somehow, the idea of being "agile" has become synonymous with constantly changing one's mind. While agile practices focus on flexibility, having a clear strategy provides direction and clarity, which ...
Apr 15, 2023
The Purpose of a Strategy
I had to read a 30-page strategy document when I just started working as a software engineer. I couldn't understand it. I was lost. Only later in my PM career did I realise that it wasn't my fault. The document itself was the problem. It lacked a clear vision, a logical structure, and a summary. A strategy isn't supposed to be a complex, convol...
Apr 15, 2023
No-Reply Emails
Have you ever received an email from a service or business that you wanted to reply to because you had a burning question? But then discovered it came from a "no-reply" address? Did a mixture of "Argh!" and "F*ck!" escape your lips? And the idea of going to their website, finding the "Contact Us" section, and filling out a form felt like yet anot...
Mar 9, 2023
SCQA Framework: Examples and How to Use It
The SCQA (Situation, Complication, Question, and Answer) framework, also known as the Minto Pyramid Principle, is a communication and problem-solving tool that breaks down complex ideas into simpler, more manageable parts. SCQA is often used in a business context where time is limited and decision-makers have to quickly grasp important informatio...
Mar 7, 2023
Product Strategy Canvas Notion Template
Are you having trouble defining and communicating your product strategy? The Product Strategy Canvas Notion Template is just what you need to get started. Inspired by Melissa Perri's article "What is Good Product Strategy?", the Product Strategy Canvas Notion Template is designed to help you plan and visualise your product strategy in a way that'...
Feb 5, 2023
What Makes a Good Product Manager?
Product management is a challenging position that calls for a broad skill set and familiarity with several aspects of business. Being a good product manager requires more than just having a specific set of technical skills. You also need to have some personality traits and soft skills that can make a huge difference in a product's success. Learn t...
