Each week I scour articles, wading through the dogs, and bringing you the best insights to help product managers and innovators be heroes.

 

Study of 5000 leaders indicates the five skills innovation leaders have that others don’t. From the study done by XBInsight with findings published in HBR, the skills are (1) manage risk, (2) demonstrate curiosity, (3) lead courageously, (4) seize opportunities, and (5) maintain strategic business perspective. Read the details at https://hbr.org/2016/12/the-5-skills-that-innovative-leaders-have-in-common

The traits of product managers are similar while their backgrounds vary widely. Product managers tend to come from many different backgrounds but they have similar traits. These characteristics are: (1) purposeful, (2) curious, (3) self-motivated, (4) nimble, (5) determined, and (6) humble. Read about each at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-de-haaff/the-worlds-most-unlikely-_b_13679616.html

3 pillars of customer success for product managers and businesses. (1) Define and map the customer journey, (2) manage your customer’s success, and (3) build a thriving customer success culture. See the details at http://www.floridatrend.com/article/21204/follow-the-three-pillars-of-customer-success-to-improve-your-bottom-line

2016 product management articles. There are several good lists like this one from SpecTechUlar blog for product managers. I’ll be doing my own as part of my 2016 review. Check out this one now at: http://spectechular.walkme.com/best-product-management-articles-of-2016/

Tools used by digital product managers. This is a list of tools used by a product manager at Zopper.com. It includes tools for analyzing web traffic, understanding the user’s journey, do A/B testing, and more. Find the list at http://www.iamwire.com/2016/12/product-management-tool/146213

4 behaviors that inspire employees to get behind their company’s innovation goals. The list is: (1) collaboration is king, (2) rewards and recognition matter, (3) innovate everywhere is the new norm and (4) entrepreneurship fosters success… http://blogs.cisco.com/innovation/collaborate-celebrate-innovate-how-to-build-an-innovative-culture-from-within

Innovation in review – 21 new products from 2016. The list includes many biodegradable and edible versions of existing products, such as edible food packaging to replace plastic. One of my favorites is the air conditioner made from 2-liter bottles. View them all at http://mashable.com/2016/12/18/social-good-innovations-2016/

Most innovative states in the US. Once again my home state of Colorado makes it into the top-10, ranking at 8th. Beating out California for first place is Massachusetts. Read Bloomberg’s rankings at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-22/here-are-the-most-innovative-states-in-america-in-2016