Pick an Extra Apple - A Product Leadership Parable

As leaders the key responsibilities is to evaluate team's performance, provide constructive feedback, and determine appropriate compensation and growth opportunities. However, this process goes beyond mere numbers and metrics; it is an opportunity to inspire our teams to unlock their full potential and contribute to the organization's success.

Allow me to share a simple parable that encapsulates the essence of what we, as leaders, should strive for during this crucial time. It's story time....

A farmer hired a worker to collect apples and fill 8 baskets each day. At first, when there were not many apples, the worker carefully filled the 8 baskets. As more and more apples grew over time, the worker's job became easier, but they still only filled the 8 baskets without picking any extra.

One day, the worker asked the farmer for more money because there were so many apples now. However, the farmer explained that just doing the basic assigned work was not enough. The farmer told the worker to pick extra apples and fill more baskets so they could sell more and make more profit for both of them.

Realizing they had become too relaxed, the worker agreed to put in more effort. The farmer gave them more resources and responsibilities to support this. With the farmer's guidance and the worker's renewed hard work, together they had their best harvest ever and made great profits for the farm.

This story highlights two crucial aspects of effective leadership: recognizing opportunities and fostering an environment that encourages initiative and growth.

As product leaders, it is our duty to identify when our team members have the potential to contribute beyond their assigned tasks. Just as the farmer recognized the opportunity to pick more apples, we must be attuned to our team's capabilities and the changing dynamics of our product and market. By providing clear guidance and empowering our teams to take on additional responsibilities, we can unlock their full potential and drive greater success for our products and the organization.

Simultaneously, we must cultivate a culture that celebrates initiative and continuous improvement. We should not solely focus on the completion of assigned tasks but also recognize and reward those who have gone above and beyond. This not only motivates our high-performing team members but also sets an example for others to follow.

Moreover, appraisal season is an opportune time to align individual goals with organizational objectives. Just as the farmer encouraged the worker to pick more apples for their mutual benefit, we should ensure that our team's efforts are directed towards achieving the company's overarching goals, fostering a sense of shared purpose and collective success.

It's time to self-evaluate, have you picked an extra apple?

... Or have you motivated someone to pick an extra apple?