The Gap Between Product Leadership Theory and Practice, According to Shreyas Doshi

In a recent LinkedIn post, Shreyas Doshi addresses the common disconnect between the idealized theories of product leadership often shared online and the gritty reality of day-to-day practice. Doshi highlights that while many popular product leadership concepts sound appealing and garner widespread agreement on platforms like LinkedIn, they often fall short when applied in real-world scenarios.

Doshi shared his thoughts following a podcast recording with Christian Idiodi, where he felt prompted to articulate the practical aspects of product leadership. He suggests that some of these essential, albeit less glamorous, practices might not achieve the same level of engagement or ‘likes’ as more theoretical content, but are crucial for achieving genuine effectiveness.

“There’s lots of ideal theory on product leadership that sounds right, feels right, and makes us want to hit the Like button when we read it on LinkedIn, except… it is just ideal theory, it doesn’t reflect the true day to day practice of product leadership.”

Bridging the Theory-Practice Chasm

Shreyas Doshi’s commentary centers on the idea that the celebrated narratives of product leadership often presented on social media tend to be overly simplified. In his view, these idealized portrayals fail to capture the complexities and nuances inherent in leading product teams effectively. He posits that the ‘ideal theory’ might be aspirational but lacks the practical grounding needed by leaders navigating the daily challenges of product development.

The discussion stemmed from a conversation where Doshi felt compelled to move beyond surface-level discussions. As he puts it:

“I enjoyed this podcast recording with Christian Idiodi in which he asks excellent questions that gets me to share the true practice of product leadership, including ideas that won’t get likes on LinkedIn, but are really essential in practice if your goal is to be highly effective product leader.”

The Unpopular Essentials of Product Leadership

Doshi suggests that true product leadership effectiveness hinges on embracing practices that may not be inherently popular or easily digestible online. These could include difficult conversations, navigating internal politics, making tough prioritization calls, or dealing with ambiguous data – elements that are rarely the focus of viral posts.

Focus on Effectiveness Over Engagement

According to Doshi, the ultimate goal for any product leader should be effectiveness, not just the accumulation of social media approval. He implies that leaders who prioritize the latter might be missing out on the critical, albeit less visible, activities that drive product success. The emphasis, in Doshi’s perspective, should be on the substance of leadership rather than its perceived presentation.

He encourages his audience to consider this distinction and engage with the podcast for a deeper dive into these less-discussed aspects of the role. As Doshi concludes:

“Give it a listen and let me know what you think.”

This perspective from Shreyas Doshi serves as a valuable reminder for product leaders and aspiring leaders alike to critically evaluate the advice they consume and to focus on the practical, often uncelebrated, actions that truly define successful product leadership.