If  you  think  product  management  is  a  tough  job…  

What  am  I  learning  from  my  jobs?  

(student)

BYU (CIO)

(CIO)

2010?  

(student/ instructor)

1985  

1990  

1995  

2000  

2007  

(Faculty)

1975  

Times Mirror

(CIO)

What I am learning

At the heart of almost all chronic problems are crucial conversations you’re either

not holding or not holding well…

•  Lack of Influence •  Poor Teamwork

•  Mediocre Productivity

Is  this  a  familiar  situaBon?  

Types  of  Silence  and  Violence  

9  

The  Silence  Fails  Study  

“Silence Fails”

The Five Crucial Conversations for Flawless Execution

•  150+ hours of observation.

• 1,000 project managers and executives at 40 organizations from most industries.

•  2,200 projects from $100,000 IT projects to billion- dollar organizational restructuring efforts and product launches.

Download Silence Fails study at www.SilenceFails.com

10  

The  Five  Crucial  ConversaBons  – 1.  Fact-­‐Free  Planning  –  commitments  made  with  no  considera/on  of  reality.    

– 2.  AWOL  Sponsors  –  senior  leaders  fail  to  provide  guidance,  resources  or  support.  

– 3.  Skir<ng  –  powerful  stakeholders  bypass  decision  making  processes.  

– 4.  Project  Chicken  –  teams  withhold  bad  news.  

– 5.  Team  Failures  –  team  members  perform  poorly  or  not  at  all.  

11  

The  Five  Crucial  ConversaBons  

– 1.  Fact-­‐Free  Planning  

– 2.  AWOL  Sponsors  

– 3.  Skir<ng  

– 4.  Project  Chicken  

– 5.  Team  Failures  

Over budget

Missed deadlines

Poor Quality or functionality Damaged morale

No Work-life balance

Crucial Conversations Results

Download Silence Fails study at www.SilenceFails.com

12  

How?  

Start  with  Heart  

Learn to Look Make It Safe Master My Stories

STATE My Path Explore Others’ Paths Move to Action

Skill  #1  –  Avoid  the  Sucker’s  Choice  

Know  your  Style  Under  Stress  Jackie Brittney Connie

https://www.vitalsmarts.com/styleunderstress.aspx

Skill  #2  –  Avoid  VicBm,  Villain,  and  Helpless  Stories  

How  good  can  you  get?  

17  

What I am learning

At the heart of almost all chronic problems are crucial conversations you’re either

not holding or not holding well…

Anytime you’re stuck, there’s a crucial conversation keeping you there.

The

•  Lack of Influence •  Poor Teamwork

•  Mediocre Productivity •  Marriage Failure

•  Diversity Challenges •  Quality Problems •  Safety Concerns •  And many more...

18  

“Give me a lever long enough and I shall move the world.” - Archimedes

Disagreement Disappointment Influence

The  Heart  of  My  Professional  Library  

One  More  Thought  

The  Professional’s  Life  

Learn  

Teach  

PracBce