Your team is facing strategic shifts in product focus. How do you keep their morale high?
Facing change can be a challenge. Share how you maintain team spirit during a strategic shift.
Your team is facing strategic shifts in product focus. How do you keep their morale high?
Facing change can be a challenge. Share how you maintain team spirit during a strategic shift.
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Product management is a very particular discipline, and ability to deal with ambiguity is a critical skill for PMs. Almost every successful product is a result of relentless experiments and multiple pivots. It’s practically in the job description - to be ready for changes and strategic pivots, and I keep reminding my teams about that, to give them perspective. PMs are the evangelists and leaders for the broader teams, so they should be the change agents for such strategic shifts and help others deal with them.
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Maintaining morale starts with open communication. Acknowledge the team's concerns, but emphasize the shared goals and future opportunities. Celebrate small wins to keep momentum and consistently show appreciation for their efforts. Providing clarity and reminding them of their value within the evolving strategy can keep the team motivated through change.
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Transparency is the key.. Your team should know the keys of strategic shift and also we should clearly appreciate the work which they have done on current project.
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To align everyone towards a strategic change - you need to "sell" the purpose of the change first. Antoine de Saint—Exupery illustrated that nicely: If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea. It sounds obvious but it's very rarely followed.
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The key is whether the team has continuous access to the business context and a clear understanding of their end goals. When team members are well-informed about these goals, any changes in product focus should feel like a natural progression. Of course, every team is different, and each individual has their own personal goals and motivations, which are crucial to consider. I believe in being transparent and encouraging open dialogue so team members can voice their thoughts and concerns. Celebrating small wins that lead us toward our desired outcomes is also important. This approach builds common understanding, keeps everyone motivated, and allows us to track progress, so shifts are seen as new challenges rather than threats.
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𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆 when things shift. Keeping the 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽 on the reasoning behind changes and showing how their work ties into the bigger picture helps. 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 along the way also keeps the momentum going.
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I will focus on below points: -Transparency is the key -Open two-way communication with team members -Clear focus on the goals -Highlight the value team brings to achieve new goals -Taking care of teams well-being during any transition
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— First, set the tone—acknowledge the shifts, but frame them as an exciting new chapter in the story. Keep the narrative positive. 🎥 — Remind the team of their importance. Each person plays a key role, and their contributions are what drive the product forward. 🌟 — Create small wins. Celebrate progress along the way to show that, even with changes, the team’s work is making an impact. 🎉 — Keep communication open. Let the team feel heard, and keep them in the loop, so they’re always connected to the bigger picture. 🗣️✨
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In times of change, best is to be transparent and reinforce the product vision in Sprint reviews if you’re in a scrum team. Then a good thing is to use daily stand-ups for alignment and adaptability, and celebrate small wins to keep morale high. When the team feels informed, heard, and valued, they stay resilient through shifts.
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• Start by clearly explaining the reasons behind the strategic shifts. 🗣️ • Reassure the team that their work is still valuable and aligns with the new focus. 🌟 • Encourage open discussions to address concerns and answer questions. 💬 • Highlight new opportunities for growth and learning in the updated direction. 🚀 • Set achievable goals to help the team see progress and feel accomplished. 🎯 • Recognize and celebrate small wins to keep the team’s spirits high. 🎉 • Provide support and resources to help them adapt smoothly. 🛠️ • Foster a sense of teamwork and remind them of the common goal. 🤝
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