While it is possible to set up balanced teams, I see organisations struggle with the shift towards cross-functional empowered product teams again and again. And it happens today just as much as when I started out in the mid-’90s. I am not surprised by the Harvard Business Review article that asserts 75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional. This sounds like such a simple and familiar concept, yet it proves difficult to set a group of people up for success in an organization. To the point where people feel like thought leaders are describing the impossible.

Equus coaching is a truly transformational experience. Working with a horse gives you immediate, unbiased feedback on how you’re showing up as a leader, plus a safe space to experiment and try something different.

However, I recognise that for many people, signing up for this type of experience involves a giant leap of faith. You don’t know what to expect or what you might get out of it. This seems rather curious, and quite a contrast to your usual coaching sessions. Here, Aoife Ní Mhóráin is sharing her experience.

In times of crisis, we gravitate back to what’s familiar. This is a natural inclination. As a result, leaders are falling back to their bad habits: waterfall, top-down product development, shortsightedness, Gannt charts, CEOs who tell teams what to build instead of setting a strategic vision.  

But all that uncertainty is still there. Now, it’s just lurking beneath what feels comfortable and predictable. I’ll share a coaching question to help you rise to new challenges.

A heart-felt thank you to everyone who has contributed to the past five years of my labour-of-love transformation practice. Here is to the next five: partnering with you to drive AI&Product transformation to enable your innovation practice, support you on your leadership journey, and make your dreams come true.

It’s hard to avoid the word “transformation” these days. Everyone is on a transformation journey—or at least they claim to be. Check if these six anti-patterns of transformation theatre hold you back from achieving your goals.

Many people struggle with strategy. What is it? And more importantly, how does it work? Here, I share a framework for aligning everyone from organizational vision to day-to-day decision-making in teams.

When it comes to transformation, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach that works for everyone (otherwise, we’d see a lot more companies succeed in their transformation efforts!). But in my years as a transformation coach and consultant, I’ve observed some patterns that the most successful companies tend to have in common. These are superpowers that make it easier for them to make major changes—and for these changes to ripple out across the organisation and have a lasting effect.

As a transformation coach, I've heard countless tales of dread from all kinds of practitioners and leaders across small and large organisations as they transform towards agile ways of working. But its misapplication may be the real culprit. Join me as we explore the distinction between agile values, principles, and practices, to uncover the keys to successful transformation. We’ll navigate key challenges to pave the way for true organizational agility.

Mind the Product was back this year with its Leadership Forum and I was so thrilled to attend! Some big takeaways include Georgie Smallwood’s tips for clear communication and collaboration and Matt LeMay’s take on how to become a grown-up product leader. I’ve gathered a few highlights and favourite moments here.

As a long-time coach of leaders, I’ve discovered that one of the most effective ways to help people answer their coaching questions comes from a very unlikely place: a round pen with horses.

Yes, you read that correctly: horses.

I wanted to share a quick guide to how you can approach your own end of year reflection. Based on what surfaces during this exercise, you can create a strategy and an action plan for the year ahead for yourself and your practice.

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve teamed up with Mags Hanley to offer a new series of retreats for both emerging and established design leaders!