Cieri: The fastest product teams are self-contained and clear on purpose
Michael Cieri · Lessons from Gusto & Square on Finding Your Product Wedge | Michael Cieri · Feb 8, 2024 · at 54:16
Michael Cieri (CPO at Gusto, former Head of Product at Square) breaks down the common characteristics of the most productive and high-velocity product teams he has worked with.
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“I think the ones that I've seen move the fastest are, one, they're clear on why they exist and what they're trying to get done. Two, they're clear on what they're trying to build. You know, there might be some nips and tucks on, you know, where's the button placed and whatever, but like, mostly they're like, this is why this thing needs to exist. We all believe in it. We can see what it needs to be. So there's a lot of clarity on purpose and where we're going. Three, they have the right people on the team. A lot of times there are just skills issues or like there's team issues that hurt Productivity. So the right people on the team. And then fourth, they are largely in control of their own destiny. They don't need to rely on others to help get done whatever they need to do. They're fairly, fairly self-contained. And then five, and this is where, you know, I think that it does depend a little bit on like stage of product or what kind of company you're in, but like they're willing to use off the shelf things, not reinvent the wheel, whatever they need to do in order to like move, move faster.”
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