a·gen·tic a·gil·i·ty

Most Common Thing You Hear in a PSPO Course?

TL;DR; Many Product Owners feel they lack control over key aspects like backlog order, product goals, and strategic discussions, which limits their impact. Recognizing this gap is the first step toward greater empowerment and influence. Product Owners should proactively seek involvement in important meetings, build relationships, and demonstrate competence to earn more accountability and elevate their role.

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Common Comments from the PSPO Course

Over the years teaching the PSPO course, I’ve heard one recurring sentiment from many Product Owners that goes something like this: “We don’t have that kind of control.”

I hear this a lot from Product Owners seeking more control.

A Call to Elevate the Role of the Product Owner

These candid admissions illuminate the very crux of what many Product Owners experience: A sense of not being in the arena where they believe they should be.

They often elaborate, saying:

  • “We can’t change the product backlog order.” 📋

  • “We can’t influence the product goal.  It feels out of our hands " 🎯

  • “Discussing the strategic direction with the business?  Seems out of our reach and we’re usually left out of that conversation.” 🚫

Here’s my perspective.   

Acknowledging this feeling isn’t a sign of defeat.  On the contrary, it’s an open invitation to engage and to rise! 🌟

Empowerment & Accountability in the Role of Product Owner

The truth?

Hearing these concerns always piques my interest.  💪

These sentiments signal to me that many Product Owners feel they aren’t playing in the major leagues yet.

But here’s the twist, ‘Recognising this gap is the first step to bridging it! 🌉

Rising to the Challenge

For those feeling this ‘gap’, it’s crucial to introspect on the road to empowerment, asking yourself valuable questions, such as:

1.  “What proactive steps can I take to elevate my organisational role?”

2.  “Which pivotal meetings can I become a part of?” 🗓️

3.  " What bridges can I build to network and solidify my role’s significance?” 🤝

Importantly, as I always say: “To be entrusted with greater accountability, you must first shine with competence .” 🔍

Are you a Product Owner feeling like you’re benched on the sidelines?  ✨

Feeling that your Product Owner role needs a boost?

I invite you to delve deeper into the PSPO discourse with me.  Hop onto my Agile and Scrum courses, and together, let’s align your role with the influence it deserves!🤝

The most common thing I hear in a PSPO course is from the product owners saying, “But we don’t have that kind of control. We aren’t able to change the order of the product backlog. We aren’t able to influence the product goal. We aren’t able to discuss with the business about the strategic direction of the product.” Right? They just aren’t playing at that level.

And for me, that’s always an invitation. Right? If you’re not playing at that level but you realise that you’re supposed to be playing at that level, what can you do within your organisation to start playing at that level? What are the meetings you can invite yourself to? The conversations you can have with other people to demonstrate your knowledge and capability? Because in order to get accountability, you have to demonstrate competence.

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