5 Powerful TED Talks That Will Make You a Better PM
As a product manager, you’ll want to continuously be seeking out new ways to learn, new information, fresh ideas, and inspiration. It’s a constant learning process, and it’s important to stay open and stay motivated…
While there are many resources out there, including books, blogs, podcasts, influential people on social media, and tons of online publications, there is something we love about TED Talks. The way they inform, send a message and motivate us to do and be better.
Their videos not only apply to things in life like the global economy or being a social leader or better person, but they can also help you become a better product manager. Here we list the ten amazing TED Talks for Product Managers, why they are so great, and what the big takeaway is. Take a look:
Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action
“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. If you talk about what you believe, you will attract those who believe what you believe.” — Simon Sinek
We start out with one of the most notable talks on leadership by the expert on the topic, Simon Sinek. You might recognize him as the author of “Start with Why,” his most recent book, “Leaders Eat Last” and his many accomplishments in the world of leadership.
Why watch? Hear about how all the great and inspiring leaders act by hearing his discussion about the Golden Circle, of “Why, How and What?” Sinek has uncovered the similarities and patterns between the great leaders who have reshaped the world in powerful ways, in their personalities and behaviors. He brings his discoveries to the stage and talks about how you can apply it to how you act in the world, and how to become an “inspired leader.”
Sheena Iyengar: The Art of Choosing
“Choosing is a creative process, one through which we construct our environment, our lives, ourselves.” — Sheena Iyengar
Why watch? Sheena Iyengar is a well-known psycho-economist, who has been advising business and consumer-goods marketers for over two decades. She is famous for her research on what drives our decisions, which she outlines with real-world examples in her book “The Art of Choosing.” This talk is a journey through the science of how and why we make the choices we do, what inspires those decisions and what businesses and people should take consider when offering options.
It will change the way you look at simply picking out a Coke or Pepsi forever.
Margaret Gould Stewart: How giant websites design for you (and a billion others, too)
“Design is creativity in service of others.” — Margaret Gould Stewart
Why watch? Facebook’s director of product design, Margaret Gould Stewart has managed the design of 6 of the largest websites in the world. She is known for her thought leadership on design by asking a simple question, “How do we design user experiences that change the world in fundamental ways?”
Here she explains three fundamental principles of designing for a huge global audience, how data comes into play and techniques for implementing change among millions of users. You’ll also hear why the team in charge of the infamous “Like” button spent over 280 hours on redesigning the button to keep with with their evolving brand.
Seth Godin: How to get your ideas to spread
“In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is a failure. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible.” — Seth Godin
Why watch? Seth Godin is one of the most influential leaders among marketers and bloggers all over the world. Mary Kuntz of Bussiness Week named him “the ultimate entrepreneur for the Information Age, ” and Forbes.com said he “is a demigod on the Web, a best-selling author, highly sought-after lecturer, successful entrepreneur, respected pundit and high-profile blogger.”
Godin has the ability to take ideas, develop them and creatively get them out into the world. His concepts have been making companies evaluate how they communicate with people, and what types of messages become extraordinary versus ordinary.
Navi Radjou: Creative problem-solving in the face of extreme limits
“Silicon Valley innovation philosophy: fail early, fail fast and fail often.” — Navi Radjou
Why watch? Navi Radjou co-authored Jugaad Innovation, to show how quick thinking helps overcome challenges. His studies include “frugal innovation” and ways to get value and be creative with limited resources, which is the heart of most startups today, and a concept that can be applied across many steps in product development.
Have any to add to this list? Tweet us @ProductSchool
Originally seen in the Product School Blog
