The Top 20 Attributes for a Product Leader
When asked “what makes a great Product person?” I usually like to think about the attributes, teachings, and models spoken about by some of the great product voices I’ve followed in my own career. This list changes from time to time but my current top 20 includes a rich aggregation of qualities that would make any product leader stand out in their field.
Visionary Zeal Like Marty Cagan, a top product leader is a visionary, always looking over the horizon.
Empathy Overdrive Embracing Melissa Perri's approach, they understand customers' needs and pains better than anyone else.
Decisive Daring Influenced by Lenny Rachitsky, they're decisive, making bold calls when necessary.
Innovation Instinct Taking a leaf from Ken Norton, they are constantly innovating, never settling for the status quo.
Relentless Resilience Richard Holmes would nod to their resilience, bouncing back stronger from setbacks.
Strategic Sagacity They display Jason Leonard's strategic thinking, always a few steps ahead in the game.
Product Passion Roman Pichler would approve of their deep passion for the product, living and breathing it.
Insightful Inquisitiveness Like Teresa Torres, they're always asking the right questions to dig deeper into problems.
Collaborative Charm Rian van der Merwe would appreciate their collaborative spirit, bringing teams together.
Agile Adaptability Borrowing from Jay Stansell, they're agile, adapting swiftly to changing markets and needs.
Technical Tact They have a solid technical understanding, helping them bridge gaps between teams.
User-Centric Focus Always prioritising the user experience, making it the heart of product development.
Data-Driven Decision Making They make decisions backed by data, not just intuition.
Effective Communication Articulate in sharing ideas and clear in setting expectations.
Leadership by Example They lead from the front, inspiring their team through action.
Customer Advocavy Championing customer needs, ensuring they're at the forefront of every decision.
Risk-Taking Temperament Not afraid to take calculated risks for greater rewards.
Ethical Enlightenment They uphold strong ethical standards in every aspect of product development.
Continuous Learning (and Teaching) Always eager to learn and grow, staying ahead in the ever-evolving tech landscape; then sharing with others.
Balanced Perspective Maintaining a healthy balance between business needs and technological capabilities.