Randeep Sidhu: Why Products Fail: The Unspoken Price of Progress

"Most of us find change hard, and group dynamics often exacerbate this resistance. Nonetheless, we all know that succesful products need to be constantly evolving. The friction between these two realities can cause huge, even existential problems on product teams.
In this talk, Randeep explores the causes of this friction, looks at how to resolve it to move products and people forward, and also imparts key tactics for avoiding the unspoken cost that can often be paid by the person doing the necessary work of challenging the existing product thinking. "

Transcript

1. Randeep Sidhu … and the unspoken price of progress (and saving the world!) Why products fail
2. Hello again Kind of nervous
3. Life and Death Decisions Lessons From a Pandemic CPO 3 Randeep Sidhu Former Director, NHS C19 app LAST YEAR
4. A product you build will kill someone. A decision you make will kill someone. What will you do to make sure your conscience is clear?
5. You regret joining this talk? Universal Psychology
6. How my perspective changed. Did I lead you into a trap?
7. Randeep’s origin story
8. What I do: Chief Product Officer Product Director / Lead Product Director Non-Profit Advising Strategy Consultant Non Exec Board Director Non Exec Board Observer
9. x2 x2 x4 🖤 💛🤎 🖤 June 2020 NHS App fails June 2020 I get series of urgent calls
10. • App averted 1 million infections • App saved 10,000 lives Built in 6 weeks Had a huge impact
11. Covid App example: Not enough users Senior NHS meeting
12. If these people don’t want to work with us, what can we do? It’s not our fault, these people are not listening
15. I challenged the STATUS QUO
16. 1. Needs to be liked 2. Defend the status quo – keep things as they are 3. Reactive 4. Comfortable - Don’t look to improve 1. Don’t need to be liked 2. Challenge the status quo – know today is not perfect 3. Proactive 4. Striving – want to improve things Villain s Heroes 2 different types of people: LET’S STAND UP
17. Heroes protect NOT improve
18. Villains challenge the status quo They want CHANGE The issue is their evil methods *Killmonger having a birthday party
19. Stories tell us how to behave …and always have! So this is powerful!
20. *positively without punching kittens or being
22. People reached out - Worked for some After the 2023 talk… - Did lots of thinking - Failed for others - Did lots of research
23. Recent example: Impending launch failure?
24. Launch healthcare in more countries? “I don’t think we are ready to expand…”
25. I spoke for a reason Threshold to speak Facts Experience Extra caution Feel I’m right Am I correct? Embarrassed? Permission? Get Punished?
26. “I never said it, but you made a great point” “John” from group messaged me Threshold to speak Facts Experience Extra caution Feel I’m right Am I correct? Embarrassed? Permission? Get Punished?
27. “You made a great point Randeep” John became my ‘minion’ “You are so right, keep it up!” “I wish I had your confidence” I feel guilty I didn’t say anything “That’s ok!” ???...
28. I’m awesome! Anyone else see this?
29. The more push back I got – the more powerful I was More truth to power More discomfort More pressure into system!
30. Over time I felt more and more awesome BUT the issues I raised stopped improving…
31. More and more time talking Less and less real change
32. Do you recognise this pattern?
33. Minions will never speak up GUILT? I don’t need to feel guilty for being quiet I’m the person that highlights issues. It’s what I’m valued for! Threshold to speak
34. I’m think I’m being a positive disruptor Being independent Changing the system from outside John needs me to speak. I’m set up as a negative force I’m predicted and expected I’m part of this whole system. I’m on the inside!
35. Management see ME as a villain •Squeaky wheel •Expected and ignored •I RELISH THIS •I JUST PUSH HARDER
36. Being a villain is fun! Until you see the villain’s story…
37. A villain exists to be defeated To return the status quo
38. But a hero needs a villain Defeating them is the hero’s story
40. I challenge the status quo I’m a villain Somone defeats me They become THE HERO The villain is gone Status quo resumes
41. What’s the end of the story? We had a series of product managers that didn’t understand our business This whole industry has a retention problem, people can’t hack it This leader was too disruptive so didn’t work out Not all can cope with our startup culture The product team are a problem. They keep complaining... But they do have a point… “We got rid of them”
42. Unspoken price of progress You are right but have to be defeated for them to maybe see MAGNETO WAS RIGHT!
43. So never bring any challenge? How can I save this product?!
44. This should not feel sad
45. *without becoming vilified
46. Awareness was the biggest help
47. Act like you are inside the system Some smaller practical steps* Don’t try and change everything at once Be silent and empower others to talk *backed by research and less frivolous then these slides seem
48. 1. You are not OUTSIDE PRESSURE
49. Outside the system: You assume malice (and you may be right!)
50. Outside the system: You assume stupidity (and you may be right!)
51. Outside the system: Getting angry makes you more antagonistic
52. LOVE BOMB FROM INSIDE
53. You can’t do a big bang change
54. No big bang Resilient and resistant
55. No big bang Tactical silence. “The unconscious at work” – A. Obholzer
56. No big bang Empower the ‘Johns’
57. No Big bang “Deviance Credit” D.Abrams (2018) – Deviance credit
58. No big bang: Eventually will realign
59. Practical tips: 1 Work from Inside 2 Tactical Silence 3 Empower others 4 Use deviance credit
60. Practical tips: 1 Work from Inside 2 Tactical Silence 3 Empower others 4 Use deviance credit
61. Remember what we are trying to avoid Falling into someone else's narrative…
62. …but I love you forever… So thank you!
63. Connect or come to round table for stories, Q’s, advice and research! Randeep Sidhu Thank you!