As a product owner, one of the key responsibilities is to ensure a cohesive and motivated development team that is focused on delivering exceptional products. To achieve this, it is crucial to foster strong relationships and open lines of communication with the team.
Thanks to Oxigent Technologies, I recently had the opportunity to embark on a business trip to Rabat, where I met the development team. In this article, I will share my experiences, insights, and the strategies we employed to increase team engagement and enhance our collective focus on product delivery.
Preparing the trip
Thanks to my past experience in Summits when meeting people you collaborate from around the world, I learned that having an agenda with clear goals is crucial. The idea of “What I want to achieve during this meeting” should be always top of mind. In order to succeed, my best advice is: have your material prepared, a fully booked agenda with spare time for extra activities that may arise during the summit, try not to bore your audience and rather make these meetings collaboration activities, ask your audience to prepare whatever material you need to be presented and relay on ice breakers to start your days. (Experience has showed me that the more nonsense are icebreaker the more relaxed the audience will be)
Building Relationships
One of the primary objectives of the business trip was to establish a personal connection with the development team in Rabat. Building relationships based on trust and understanding lays the foundation for effective collaboration. During the trip, I took the time to meet each team member individually, engaging in both professional and personal conversations. By understanding their aspirations, concerns, and work dynamics, I was able to foster a stronger sense of unity and shared purpose. Ice breakers are always a great ally
Creating a Shared Vision
To enhance team engagement and align everyone towards a common goal, it was essential to communicate a clear and inspiring vision for the product. For my surprise, everyone said they knew the vision and strategy for the product although, I then discover that was not the case, and ended being the most energising meeting. Through presentations, interactive workshops, and brainstorming sessions, we collectively shaped that vision that resonated with each team member’s expertise and aspirations. By involving the development team in the decision-making process, we fostered a sense of ownership and accountability, driving their motivation to deliver exceptional results.
Facilitating Effective Communication:
During the trip, we focused on improving communication channels and practices to eliminate barriers that hindered efficient collaboration. Additionally, we emphasised the importance of active listening, ensuring that every team member had an opportunity to express their ideas and concerns. By providing a safe space for open dialogue, we are promoted a culture of trust and collaboration, enabling the team to work cohesively towards our shared goals.
Recognise and Celebrate Achievements
Acknowledging and celebrating achievements is a powerful tool to boost team morale and maintain focus on product delivery. While in Rabat, we held a team-wide celebration to recognize the milestones achieved by the development team. We highlighted individual and collective accomplishments, expressed gratitude for their hard work, and rewarded exceptional performance. By acknowledging their contributions, we reinforced the team’s sense of purpose and motivated them to continue delivering high-quality products.
Run User experience experiments
Developers relay too much on working only with the code although, this is not enough to have the real sense that the final users will have when experiencing your products. Therefore is crucial to have User Journeys reviewed live with all of them as Backends, Frontends, and QA will get the real sense of the whole digital experience and will celebrate the work done and those areas that needs improvement. This will give them more sense of responsibility therefore ownership for the product development and good quality.
Conclusion
The business trip to Rabat served as a catalyst for increased team engagement and a sharper focus on product delivery. By investing time in building relationships, aligning our vision, improving communication, recognising achievements, and fostering professional development, we created an environment that inspired the development team to deliver their best work. The trip not only strengthened our connections but also reinforced our commitment to achieving success together. As a product Owner I am excited to witness the continued growth and impact of our team after the trip, empowered by the experience in Rabat.
Once more, thanks Sébastien Gilbert and Cristina Moreno for the opportunity of connecting in REAL with the development team, it made a huge difference at personal and professional level and thanks to all involved for such great experience!
-Antonio G.