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Showing posts from June, 2011

Debunking Leadership Myths

Typical Conversation Between Product Managers Many conversations about product management and leadership have taken place in the blogosphere and Twitter.  The typical exchange goes something like this: Product Manager 1:  "Product managers have a lot of responsibility but no formal authority." Product Manager 2:  "Authority is something to be earned, not granted." Product Manager 1:  "But developers and sales don't listen to me, because they don't report to me and are in different departments." Product Manager 2:  "Great leaders work with cross-functional teams." Product Manager 1:  "Yes, but I don't get any support from executives when I work across departments." Product Manager 2:  "You shouldn't need support if you are a great leader." Leadership Myths Let's put to rest the two opposing leadership myths that underlie these types of exchanges.  The opposing myths are: A great leader's effec