You Don’t Need a Product Framework

Why frameworks won’t make or break your success as a product leader

Earlier this week, I was wrapping up a coaching engagement with a product leader I admire. As we reflected on her growth, we revisited one of her early goals: developing her own product frameworks.

I asked her if she had she actually done that?

Technically, no. She hadn’t created any brand-new frameworks. Turns out it was easy for her to find frameworks when she needed them - from coworkers, Lenny’s, me to good ole fashion googling.

I reflected back that what she had done was far more powerful: she’d grown into a confident, intuitive people leader. And along the way, she sharpened her gut instinct and product sense.

I said, “It kind of seems like you’ve been equating your ability to develop frameworks with your success as a leader.”

We both laughed, because it’s such a product person thing to do.

Product people are obsessed with frameworks.¹

We love systems, structures and step-by-step diagrams.

Maybe it’s our Type A tendencies.

Maybe it’s our desire for control² in chaotic environments.

Either way, frameworks are part of the culture. And, frameworks are one of the top things people ask for when they come to work with me. People often equate their ability to develop or use frameworks with their success as a product person.

But remember, a framework is just a tool.

Tools don’t drive success, people do.

To be clear: frameworks can be useful. Really useful.

They can help with prioritization, decision making and tradeoffs. [resists the urge to give you my favorite framework because it’d be defeating the purpose]

But in the 2+ years I’ve been coaching product leaders, I’ve never seen a breakthrough from a framework.

I’ve seen breakthroughs come from people doing deeper work. Like influencing without authority. Like navigating power dynamics. Like becoming a better storyteller, negotiator, or coach. It’s why I still believe a PM’s soft skills are 10x more important than their hard skills.

Why a product manager's soft skills are 10x more important than their hard skills

So if you’re reading this and feeling pressure to invent the next great framework, please don’t.

Your value isn’t in the framework you create.

It’s in how you move people and ideas forward.

With or without a framework.

I tell all my clients to:

• Borrow frameworks

• Use what works

• Leave what doesn’t

But don’t confuse frameworks with leadership.

You don’t need a product framework to be a great product leader.

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Hi - I’m Jori and I’m a Product Coach.

If you’re Product Leader or on a Product team and you’re looking for support - drop me a note, I’d love to connect. 🤝

1. Not me publishing a framework with collaborator, Ravi Mehta last week.

2. We have all the control and no control, all at the same time.