Why Communication is Key by Reach PLC Senior Product Manager

Communication Emphasis: The talk emphasizes the critical role of communication in product management, underscoring its significance throughout the presentation. Background and Professional Journey: The speaker provides a glimpse into their background, mentioning their start in university around 20 years ago, initially in design and development. The journey involves a transition from design to development, with stints at Yahoo and the BBC, eventually leading to a role at Reach PLC. Challenges in the News Industry: The speaker addresses the challenges faced by the news industry, particularly in monetizing local news due to the digitization of information and competition from tech giants like Google and Facebook. Introduction to "In Your Area" Product: The focus shifts to the product the speaker manages, "In Your Area," positioned as a local news and community platform. The product aims to tackle the difficulties in monetizing local news by experimenting with the presentation of historical local news and aggregating content from various sources. Features of "In Your Area" Platform: The platform aggregates news from different publications and curates content on events, crime statistics, property information, and public notices. It addresses the challenge of quickly introducing solutions to the market by having days where a basic solution is implemented to keep pace with rapid developments. Stakeholder Communication: The speaker delves into the intricacies of communication with stakeholders, emphasizing the need to convince and gain buy-in from team members, company executives, and even external partners. Different communication strategies are discussed, including the use of narratives, data-driven discussions, and the importance of knowing and empathizing with the audience. Key Metrics and Managing Expectations: The speaker stresses the importance of understanding key metrics aligned with the company's goals and the significance of watertight data in discussions. Managing expectations and communicating priorities is highlighted, with an emphasis on over-communicating priorities and explaining changes in a transparent manner. Building Trust and Team Dynamics: Building trust within the team is considered crucial, with occasional team-building activities recommended to foster positive relationships. The talk concludes with a reminder not to underestimate the power of positive reinforcement and occasional praise to build a healthy team dynamic.