Building high-performing teams | Melissa Tan (Webflow, Dropbox, Canva)
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Published 2023-06-18
• Attributes of high-performing teams
• Tips for developing talent and seeking a mentor
• How to create a strong culture of ownership
• Frameworks for hiring PM and growth talent
• Common pitfalls companies face when implementing growth strategies
• Lessons from scaling Dropbox
• The DACI framework for increasing team velocity
• How to actually embrace first-principles thinking
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Find the transcript at: www.lennyspodcast.com/building-high-performing-tea…
Where to find Melissa Tan:
• Twitter: twitter.com/melissamtan
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissamtan/
Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: www.lennysnewsletter.com/
• Twitter: twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Melissa’s background
(04:12) What’s next for Melissa
(06:45) Lessons learned from Dropbox
(11:49) When to add sales to product-led products and vice versa
(14:28) Managing people with a people-focused and results-oriented approach
(17:14) An example of people-focused leadership
(20:26) The importance of talent development and why Melissa invests in it
(22:26) Tips for finding a mentor
(24:58) Specific questions to ask when you are interviewing for a role
(27:49) Companies Melissa has worked with
(28:33) Attributes of high-performing teams
(31:38) Creating a sense of ownership among team members
(34:36) Building a team-first culture
(36:54) Avoiding burnout by knowing your limits
(39:24) Developing talent and unlocking potential within your organization
(42:45) Melissa’s hiring practices and what she looks for in a product manager
(44:40) The exact interview sequence Melissa utilizes
(49:58) Common pitfalls when creating growth teams
(53:43) “Flying formation” and the DACI framework
(56:48) Who should own revenue
(58:19) When to invest in growth
(1:01:06) What to look for in your first growth hire
(1:04:35) When it’s appropriate to hire an advisor
(1:06:19) First-principles thinking
(1:09:50) Lightning round
Referenced:
• Jiaona Zhang on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jiaona/
• Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead: www.amazon.com/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/038534…
• Tim Ferriss: How to Find a Great Mentor: • Tim Ferriss: How To Find A Great Mentor
• Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity: www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Revised-Kick-Ass-Hum…
• How to Monetize a Freemium Business: www.ycombinator.com/blog/how-to-monetize-a-freemiu…
• DACI framework: www.productplan.com/glossary/daci/
• Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't: www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others/dp…
• The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself: www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Your…
• The Four Agreements: www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-…
• Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on HBO: www.hbo.com/winning-time-the-rise-of-the-lakers-dy…
• ChatGPT: chat.openai.com/
• Webflow: webflow.com/
Production and marketing by penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.
All Comments (13)
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Lenny Just wanted to appreciate what you are putting out there, it's very informative for me as a founder with limited access to such high-profile individuals, learning a lot. cheers.
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What an awesome podcast Lenny! Your interaction is so smooth and precise!
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absolute gold on hiring, interviewing, and developing talent
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Great video. Very informative. Thank you!
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awesome interview. Love “hiring for attribute” and “first principle”!!
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Loved it 😊
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❤❤Good Video👌👌
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it is really good
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Create interview with Melissa, Lenny.
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Melissa, how can I reach you?
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nicie
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Po