Latest news with #ProductManager
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
PM's Guide To Running Meetings That Don't Make People Want To Quit
Ishaan Agarwal, Senior Product Manager at Square. Let's talk about meetings. Actually, let's talk about why everyone hates them. You know the feeling. That calendar notification pops up and your soul dies a little. Another hour of your life is about to vanish into the corporate void. The thing is, as product managers, we're often the ones sending those soul-crushing invites. We're the meeting makers. But here's the uncomfortable truth. Meetings aren't inherently evil. Bad meetings are evil. And most meetings are really, really bad. Microsoft researchers found that ineffective meetings are the number one productivity killer in modern workplaces. When people quit jobs, they don't usually cite "too many meetings" as the reason. But dig deeper into exit interviews about "lack of work-life balance" or "inability to get work done," and guess what you'll find? Meetings. Always meetings. Start With Why (No, Really) Every meeting needs a purpose. Not a vague purpose like "discuss Q4 roadmap." A real purpose. What decision needs to be made? What problem needs to be solved? If you can't articulate this in one sentence, cancel the meeting. Here's a simple test. Before scheduling, ask yourself: "What will be different after this meeting?" If the answer is "Everyone will be informed about X," send an email. If the answer is "We'll feel good about alignment," please don't. But if the answer is "We'll have decided between option A and option B," now you're talking. Product managers love to schedule "sync meetings." Stop it. Synchronous time is expensive. A one-hour meeting with six people isn't a one-hour meeting. It's six hours of human potential. Treat it that way. The Guest List Matters More Than You Think Who really needs to be there? I mean, really, not who might have feelings about not being invited or who traditionally attends these things. Who actually needs to be in the room for the decision to happen? There's this weird corporate thing where meeting invites become status symbols. So, here's what you do. You create two lists. Required attendees who need to be there for the meeting to achieve its purpose and optional attendees who might find it useful but aren't essential. Then, tell the optional folks they're truly optional. Write it in the invite: "You're optional for this one. I'll send detailed notes after." Watch what happens. Half won't show up. And the ones who do actually want to be there. Write It Down First You've heard about Amazon's memo culture. Most companies try this and fail spectacularly. They write the memo, then still have the meeting where everyone discusses what they just read. That's missing the point. Writing forces clarity. When you have to put your thoughts into complete sentences, you realize half of them don't make sense. So, write stuff down before the meeting, but not six pages. Write maybe six paragraphs: what's being decided and the context, options and trade-offs. Send it 24 hours before. Give people time to think. Run It Like You Respect People's Time Start on time. If the meeting starts at 2:00, you start talking at 2:00. Not 2:03 when Steve finally joins. The people who showed up on time? They matter. End early. Never end late. If you scheduled 30 minutes and you're done in 20, give people 10 minutes back. They'll love you for it. If you need more time than scheduled, tough. You failed at planning. Keep a parking lot. Someone starts going down a rabbit hole about technical implementation when you're trying to decide on pricing? Parking lot. Write it down, promise to address it later and move on. The Follow-Through That Everyone Forgets The meeting ends. Decisions were made. Actions were assigned. Then, nothing happens. Why? Because nobody wrote anything down. Or they wrote it down but didn't share it. Within two hours of the meeting ending, send a summary, not a transcript. Include what was decided, who's doing what and by when—three paragraphs max. Then, follow up. That action item Jim took? Check on it, but not in a micromanaging way. Ask in a "Hey, need any help?" way. Most action items die from forgetfulness, not malice. The Nuclear Option Sometimes, you end up in meeting hell—back-to-backs all day with no time to think. When this happens, you need the nuclear option. Cancel everything for a week. Send a note: "Meeting reset. If your meeting is critical, please reschedule with a clear agenda and outcome." Half the meetings won't come back. The ones that do? They come back better with a clearer purpose and a smaller group. It's like spring cleaning for your calendar. The Reality Check Meetings aren't going away. We need to align, decide and create together. But we don't need to do it badly. The next time you're about to send that meeting invite, pause. Ask yourself if this is really the best way to achieve what you're trying to achieve. If it is, make it count. Because here's the thing about being a product manager. You're not just building products. You're building culture. Every terrible meeting you run—that's the culture you're building. Every efficient, purposeful, respectful meeting—that's culture, too. Choose wisely. Your team's sanity depends on it. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As Mobile Scanners Multiply Across Industries, Ergodyne Delivers the Fix for Loss, Damage and Downtime
New Mobile Device Solutions St. Paul, MN, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The surge in mobile device usage across warehousing, retail, logistics and beyond has made scanners indispensable. But it's also introduced costly problems. From misplaced gear to costly breaks, businesses are seeing operations disrupted and costs quietly adding up. Ergodyne continues to answer that challenge with the launch of its latest Mobile Device Solutions—a line of rugged, on-body holsters and tethers built to secure, protect and streamline the use of handheld scanners and tablets in demanding work environments. New to the lineup are the 3143 Barcode Scanner Sling Lanyard, engineered with ergonomic padded shoulder straps for all-day comfort and secure device carrying, and the 5549 Tablet Holder with Detachable Shoulder Strap, offering versatile, hands-free tablet transport and quick access for workers on the move. 'More industries are turning to handheld tech to speed up workflows, but without the right gear to secure those devices, the efficiency gains are gone,' said Ergodyne Product Manager, Matt Hahn. 'This launch is about solving that problem before it impacts operations.' Misplaced devices can grind work to a halt, and damage from drops can cost up to $4,500 per device to replace. Ergodyne's solutions provide drop protection, ready access and device control, keeping critical tools where they belong: within reach and in one piece. 'We've worked with teams across sectors who feel the pain of downtime,' said Ergodyne President, Greg Schrab. 'Guided by this insight, our Mobile Device Line and these latest additions help keep productivity high and operations smooth.' Designed for operations of all sizes and across industries, the newest Mobile Device Solutions in Ergodyne's lineup are available now. For more details, visit: ABOUT ERGODYNE Since 1983, Tenacious Holdings, Inc. (dba Ergodyne, a Klein Tools Company) has pioneered the development of products that Make The Workplace A Betterplace™. What started with just one product has grown into a line of top flight, battle-tested, Tenacious Work Gear®; all precision crafted to provide protection, promote prevention and manage the elements for workers on jobsites the world over. The current lineup is extensive and constantly growing: ProFlex® Hand Protection, ProFlex® Knee Pads, ProFlex® Supports, Skullerz® Head & Face Protection, Skullerz® Eye Protection, Trex® Traction, KREW'D® Skin Protection, Chill-Its® Cooling Products, N-Ferno® Warming Products, GloWear® Hi-Vis Apparel, Squids® Lanyards, Arsenal® Gear and Tool Storage, and SHAX® Portable Work Shelters. Originally posted on: Attachment New Mobile Device Solutions CONTACT: Ergodyne 8002258238 tenaciousnation@
Time Business News
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Exact POPM Dumps PDF Your Ultimate Guide to Passing the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Certification Exam
Preparing for the Certified SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) exam can be challenging without the right study materials. With the increasing demand for certified professionals in Agile and SAFe methodologies, clearing the POPM certification has become a top priority for many professionals. If you're looking for a reliable and proven way to prepare, the Exact POPM Dumps PDF available at CertsQuestions is the perfect solution to help you succeed on your first attempt. The Certified SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) certification is a prestigious credential offered by Scaled Agile that validates your ability to apply Lean-Agile principles in real-world scenarios. It demonstrates that you're capable of effectively managing Agile teams, prioritizing backlogs, and delivering customer value at scale. In today's dynamic job market, companies are actively seeking professionals who understand the SAFe framework and can help streamline product delivery. The POPM certification not only boosts your professional credibility but also opens doors to higher-paying roles and leadership opportunities in Agile environments. CertsQuestions offers a professionally designed and highly accurate POPM Dumps PDF, meticulously prepared by experts who understand the exam structure and content. Unlike other unreliable sources, our materials are constantly updated to align with the latest SAFe exam patterns. These dumps are built to reflect the actual exam format, including realistic scenario-based questions, detailed explanations, and multiple-choice formats. By practicing with these dumps, you'll gain confidence and familiarity with what to expect on test day. Here are some of the key reasons why learners around the globe trust CertsQuestions' POPM dumps: Accurate & Verified Questions : All questions are verified by SAFe professionals. : All questions are verified by SAFe professionals. Regularly Updated Content : Keeps up with changes in the certification syllabus. : Keeps up with changes in the certification syllabus. Easy-to-Download PDF Format : Study anytime, anywhere — on your phone, tablet, or laptop. : Study anytime, anywhere — on your phone, tablet, or laptop. Well-Structured Answers : Detailed explanations help you understand concepts deeply. : Detailed explanations help you understand concepts deeply. Boost Confidence: Practice under exam-like conditions to enhance performance. With these features, you're not just memorizing answers you're truly understanding the concepts behind them, which is crucial for clearing the POPM exam and excelling in your career. Many candidates waste time studying bulky materials or attending expensive bootcamps. With CertsQuestions' Exact POPM Dumps PDF, you can skip the confusion and focus directly on what matters most — the actual exam content. These dumps are tailored to: Highlight key SAFe principles and roles Cover important exam objectives Help with real-world Agile scenarios Provide mock practice sessions that simulate the actual test Instead of generic content, you'll receive targeted materials designed to maximize your learning efficiency and reduce preparation time. Get Certified with Confidence Using Trusted Resources from CertsQuestions When you're preparing for a high-value certification like SAFe POPM, it's critical to choose a trustworthy source. CertsQuestions is a leading platform offering authentic certification preparation resources, with a strong focus on Scrum certifications and SAFe frameworks. 👉 Check out our Scrum vendor page here: 👉 Learn more about the POPM certification here: Our platform is dedicated to helping professionals like you achieve their goals with real success stories and high pass rates. By choosing CertsQuestions, you're setting yourself up for a brighter future in the Agile domain. Don't leave your success to chance. The Exact POPM Dumps PDF from CertsQuestions provides the tools you need to pass confidently and excel in your career. With up-to-date content, expert-approved questions, and a user-friendly format, these dumps are the most efficient and reliable way to prepare for your Certified SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager exam. Ready to take the next step? Visit CertsQuestions now and start preparing with the Exact POPM Dumps PDF trusted by thousands of successful candidates worldwide. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Silent Signals: How AI Can Read Between The Lines In Your Voice
Harshal Shah is a Senior Product Manager with over a decade of experience delivering innovative audio and voice solutions. Voice technologies are no longer just about recognizing what we say; they are beginning to understand how we say it. As artificial intelligence (AI) advances, it can detect subtle emotional signals in our speech, promising more human-like interactions with machines. Emotional AI is reshaping how voice data is used across industries. Think about the last time you spoke with someone who could instantly tell how you felt without you ever saying it. That intuitive recognition is a critical part of how we build trust and empathy. As machines play an increasing role in our lives, they must learn to grasp not just what we say, but how we say it to truly support us in meaningful ways. In this article, I'll explore how AI is learning to interpret the emotional undercurrents in our voices and why it matters more than ever. As someone who has spent over a decade advancing voice and audio technologies across multiple industries, I focus on tuning speech interfaces to detect what people say and how they say it. I have led real-time voice recognition efforts and developed industry guidelines for speech clarity and inclusive interaction. I am passionate about building voice technologies that align with how humans naturally communicate. Understanding Emotional AI And Paralinguistics Have you ever wondered how much your tone of voice says about you? It's not just about the words we speak; it's how we speak them. In my experience, understanding how people talk, their tone, pauses and energy often tells you more than the words themselves. Paralinguistic voice analysis focuses on non-verbal elements of speech like tone, pitch, volume, pauses and rhythm that convey emotion, intention or attitude. While traditional voice recognition focused on transcribing spoken words, emotional AI adds a new layer: interpreting how those words are delivered. Today's AI systems use deep learning to identify these paralinguistic features in real time. Sophisticated algorithms process acoustic data to detect stress, enthusiasm, hesitation or frustration, providing machines with emotional awareness that was once the sole domain of human intuition. Applications Across Industries In digital learning environments, emotional AI can help personalize content delivery. For example, voice-enabled tutoring systems can detect confusion or boredom and adapt the pace or style of teaching. In recruitment, analyzing candidate stress levels or communication style during voice interviews may offer additional insights, though this also raises ethical questions around fairness and consent. In mental health, researchers and startups are analyzing speech patterns to detect early signs of depression, anxiety or cognitive decline. Voice biomarkers can offer a non-invasive, scalable method for screening and monitoring psychological health. In customer service, AI-driven voice systems are trained to adapt based on the caller's emotions. For example, a trained system may detect frustration in a caller's voice. As a result, the case can be escalated to a human agent with specialized training. This emotional routing can reduce churn and improve satisfaction. In safety-critical environments like aviation or automotive, voice systems could be explored to monitor stress and fatigue levels in real time, potentially preventing accidents before they occur. How Emotional AI Works So, how exactly does AI learn to recognize emotions in our voices? At the core of these capabilities is advanced signal processing. AI models analyze pitch contours, speech rate, energy and spectral patterns. Deep learning architectures, such as LSTMs and transformers, are trained on thousands of labeled voice samples to recognize emotion with increasing accuracy. Some models also incorporate context: not just what was said and how it was said, but also when and where. This multimodal awareness, combining voice with video and environmental data, enhances reliability in real-world applications. Ethical Considerations Responsible development of emotional AI depends on a few key best practices. When working with emotional AI, consent is a primary concern. Users may not realize their emotional state is being inferred, particularly if the AI does so passively. Transparency in system design and communication is essential. In light of all of this, championing user consent and clear disclosure when emotional data is being processed is paramount. Bias is another issue. Emotional expression varies across cultures and individuals. AI models trained on narrow datasets may misinterpret non-Western or neurodivergent speech patterns, leading to inaccurate or unfair outcomes. To address this, organizations must audit their models to account for cultural, linguistic and demographic diversity. Privacy is also at stake. Emotional data can be more revealing than words. If mishandled, this information could be used for manipulation, profiling or unauthorized surveillance. To help ensure emotional AI systems are not only powerful but also worthy of user trust, organizations must prioritize on-device processing of data, especially in sensitive contexts like healthcare The Future Of Emotional AI What could it mean for our daily lives when machines start to understand how we feel? Emotional AI is still evolving, but its trajectory is clear. Future systems will combine voice with facial recognition and contextual data to create holistic emotional profiles. These developments could lead to more empathetic virtual assistants, more responsive healthcare bots and safer autonomous systems. However, the future must be guided by principles of fairness, transparency and privacy. As we build machines that listen not just to our words but to our emotions, the responsibility to use that power ethically becomes essential. AI is learning to hear us better. Now we must teach it to listen wisely. As someone who's worked closely with both voice recognition systems and the humans they aim to serve, I believe the goal isn't to replace human empathy but to build machines that can complement it. When used ethically and responsibly, emotional AI has the potential to bridge the gap between data and human connection in powerful, lasting ways. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Entrepreneur
21-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
What I've Learned About Being a Product Manager from Harshibar
Recently, I watched Harshibar's video about her experience as a Product Manager at a unicorn startup called Coda. As someone interested in tech careers, her insights resonated with me and... This story originally appeared on Calendar Recently, I watched Harshibar's video about her experience as a Product Manager at a unicorn startup called Coda. As someone interested in tech careers, her insights resonated with me and offered a realistic glimpse into the PM role that goes beyond the glossy job descriptions we often see. What struck me most was how she described the constant context switching required in her position. This isn't just about multitasking—it's about rapidly shifting between different mental frameworks, projects, and stakeholder needs throughout the day. The Hidden Challenges of Product Management Harshibar's morning routine reveals something many aspiring PMs don't consider: the precious value of uninterrupted work time. She mentioned having a block from 9 to 11:30 AM for solo work because most of her team is in various time zones. This is fascinating because it highlights how PMs must strategically guard their focus time. Finding large chunks of time without meetings is like discovering gold in the PM world. This protected time allows for the deep thinking work that drives product decisions, whether preparing write-ups, responding thoughtfully to messages, or planning upcoming projects. The back-to-back meetings that fill her calendar after this morning's block showcase another reality of the role. I understand her comment about how draining back-to-back meetings can be—especially when you're new to the job. The mental stamina required to stay present and engaged through hours of video calls is substantial. It's difficult when all your team members are new. Teams you are familiar with and friends make a big difference. New teams are hard to break into personally, which a PM must do. The Mental Gymnastics Required What I found most insightful was Harshibar's description of the mental gymnastics involved in PM work. She explained: The kind of interesting and challenging aspect of being a PM from my experience at least is that there is a lot of context switching involved in the role… I'm basically meeting with some people who are in the best of their field whether it's design or engineering or marketing… To step into a meeting as a product manager and to kind of drive a decision or lead some product vision I need to come up to speed with what's going on. This perfectly captures what makes the role both exciting and exhausting. PMs must: Quickly absorb complex information across multiple domains Ask insightful questions that move projects forward Make decisions without always having a clear 'right answer' Switch contexts between wildly different projects throughout the day Mental flexibility is both the greatest challenge and the most valuable skill a PM can develop. It's not just about knowing a little bit about everything—it's about knowing how to navigate uncertainty with confidence. Finding Balance in a Demanding Role What I appreciate about Harshibar's candid take is how she acknowledges the need for breaks. She mentions stepping outside, having coffee, or playing with her dog Yogi between meetings. These small moments of respite aren't luxuries—they're necessities for maintaining the mental clarity needed to perform effectively. The remote work aspect of her job at Coda also offers flexibility that wouldn't be possible with a traditional commute. Instead of spending up to an hour and a half traveling each way, she can use that time for focused work or personal restoration. The PM role seems to demand a careful balancing act between intense focus and intentional breaks. Without this balance, the constant context switching might quickly lead to burnout. My Takeaways for Aspiring PMs After reflecting on Harshibar's day in the life, I've developed a few thoughts for anyone considering this career path: Protect your focus time fiercely—it's when your most valuable work happens Develop strategies to manage your energy through meeting-heavy days Practice the art of context switching as a deliberate skill Build in small breaks to reset your mind between different projects Recognize that feeling mentally stretched is normal, not a sign of inadequacy The PM role clearly isn't for everyone. It requires comfort with ambiguity, strong communication skills, and the ability to make decisions with incomplete information. But it offers a unique challenge for those who thrive on variety and enjoy connecting different disciplines. I'm grateful for Harshibar's honest portrayal of her experience. It's refreshing to see beyond the job title to the lived reality of product management—its demands and rewards. For anyone considering this path, her video offers valuable insight into what the day-to-day entails, beyond the buzzwords and job descriptions. Photo by fauxels, Pexels The post What I've Learned About Being a Product Manager from Harshibar appeared first on Calendar.
