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When describing a great Product Owner and how they work, Viktor focuses first on effective communication; a great PO must clearly articulate what's working and what isn't to the team and stakeholders while fostering a reflective environment. Secondly, protection is essential; they must safeguard the team and product vision amidst constantly evolving technology, resisting the urge to chase every new trend. Finally, being result-oriented is vital; a great PO has a clear understanding of the desired outcomes and end state of the product. Viktor encapsulates this with the mantra, "It's always the leader who is wrong, and it's always the team who wins."
Viktor discusses a common anti-pattern in product ownership: the 'blind PO' who lacks a clear vision. This type of PO is overly preoccupied with politics and managing stakeholder requests, neglecting the broader product vision. They often focus solely on satisfying immediate customer demands, which can work for some but not all scenarios. This approach can lead to team demotivation. Viktor emphasizes the need for POs to reflect, ask probing questions, and truly 'own' the product, considering long-term goals and the product's overall direction, rather than just short-term customer requests.
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About Viktor Didenchuk
Viktor began his career as a Software Engineer in the mid 2010's, before discovering a passion for coaching and facilitating value delivery. He currently serves as a Scrum Master at Lloyds Banking Group, the UK's largest retail bank, where he contributes to the Agile transformation of a 60,000+ employee organization, navigating and sharing the challenges encountered.
You can link with Viktor Didenchuk on LinkedIn.