AA213 - Being a Good Engineer Kinda Sucks (Reaction)
Do you want to hear a story about stifling growth and creativity through the lens of one developer's personal story?You're in luck! Join Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel as they watch and react to Theo's YouTube video: "Being a good engineer kinda sucks," April 28, 2025.It's a tale about the tension between excelling at your craft versus navigating organizational politics and dysfunction. That's right, today, we're talking about themes of career development, team dynamics, and leadership, so feel free to stick around for our thoughts on these and:The sustainability trap of overworking to meet unrealistic expectationsHow organizational politics can punish innovation and excellenceThe importance of product sense vs. documentation-driven developmentFinding and nurturing relationships with like-minded professionals#Leadership #ProductManagement #CareerDevelopment #TechCareersLINKS= = = = = = = = = = = =YouTubeAppleSpotifyREFERENCES= = = = = = = = = = = =Check Out Theo's Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VuM1GCadt4...and his YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@t3dotgg...and his website: https://t3.gg/MUSIC= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)
Who coaches PMs if Directors or CPOs don't understand how features get built? ...or don't understand how to build a strategy?Join Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel as we analyze Ravi Mehta's PM competency framework and debate which skills actually matter at each level of product management!#ProductManagement #Leadership #ProductStrategyREFERENCES"How to Become a Peak Product Manager" by Ravi Mehta: https://www.ravi-mehta.com/product-manager-skills/= = = = = = = = = = = =LINKS Arguing Agile: http://arguingagile.comYouTube: https://youtu.be/d9byEWuGbBoSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)
--------
46:44
AA211 - Communication Is Product's Only Job, OR IS IT?
Listen or watch as Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando debate whether communication is the primary function of product managers. We explore how and if PMs can balance effective communication across stakeholder groups while still delivering results, in addition to other topics, such as: What percentage really is communicationThe power-interest matrix for stakeholder managementBalancing narrative leadership vs technical excellenceCreating vision without authorityMaking the invisible turn visibleWhat makes a good one-page vision documents#ProductManagement #Agile #Communication= = = = = = = = = = = =REFERENCESArguing Agile 201: Mastering Stakeholder Communication and ManagementArguing Agile 205: Debating Impact versus Visibility in Product ManagementArguing Agile 123: PRDsWho Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson, 1998Geoffrey Moore, Crossing the Chasm, 1991Working Backwards, Bill Carr & Colin Bryar, 2021The Power/Interest Grid, Eden & Ackermann, 1998= = = = = = = = = = = =LINKS Arguing Agile: http://arguingagile.comYouTube: https://youtu.be/MEKYApOb4xcSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)
--------
55:03
AA210 - The Need for (Engineering) Speed!
Ever been in a meeting where an executive decrees: "Engineering needs to go faster!" without any nuance or understanding of the underlying issues?What a coincidence - so have we!!!Listen or watch as Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel discuss this common yet problematic demand. Join us as we unmask deeper organizational issues, explore how to respond to this request, and discuss the potential causes, constraints, and solutions.Whether you're in engineering, product management, or leadership, this episode provides practical insights for addressing the "go faster" demand in ways that deliver business value quickly, under budget, and right on-time!#EngineeringLeadership #ProductManagement #AgileTeamsREFERENCESGood Strategy/Bad Strategy, by Richard Rumelt (book)Arguing Agile #185 "What Companies Do Instead of Strategy"Arguing Agile #103 "Challenges to Building Product Roadmaps"Inspired, by Marty Cagan (book)LINKS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arguingagileSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596Website: http://arguingagile.com= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)
--------
39:03
AA209 - Asking for What You Need: The Superpower of High Performers
Discover why the ability to ask for what you need is a critical skill that separates high performers from average ones. Join Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando as we explore the "how and why" of the skill that is: making more explicit requests for support!We dive into the dangers of hustle culture, the limitations of traditional hierarchies, and practical ways to improve your communication skills. Listen or watch to better understand how to navigate team dynamics, establish healthy boundaries, and move beyond "hope as a strategy" to get what you need to succeed; including...Key topics:Why hUsTlE cUlTuRe leads to burnout and diminishing returnsHow to make explicit requests without appearing demandingThe importance of sharing your needs and inviting others to do the same- Practical communication skills for navigating organizational politicsWhy rejection shouldn't stop you from asking for what you need#AgileCoaching #ProductManagement #TeamDevelopmentLINKS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arguingagileSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596Website: http://arguingagile.com= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)
We're arguing about agile so that you don't have to! We seek to better prepare you to deal with real-life challenges by presenting both sides of the real arguments you will encounter in your professional career.On this podcast, working professionals explore topics and learnings from their experiences and share the stories of Agilists at all stages of their careers. We seek to do so while maintaining an unbiased position from any financial interest.
South Africa