Shreyas Doshi on pre-mortems, the LNO framework, the three levels of product work, why most execution problems are strategy problems, and ROI vs. opportunity cost thinking

Jun 7, 2022 1h 16m 6 insights Episode Page ↗
Lenny Rachitsky interviews product management expert Shreyas Doshi (Yahoo, Google, Twitter, Stripe) about five core ideas: pre-mortems, the LNO framework for time management, the three levels of product work, why execution problems are often strategy problems, and prioritizing by minimizing opportunity cost. A bonus topic on high agency is also covered.
Actionable Insights

1. High Agency Mindset

Cultivate a “high agency” mindset by taking strong ownership, creatively executing through challenges, and demonstrating high resilience to achieve goals despite imperfect conditions or obstacles. This trait differentiates high-impact product managers who exceed expectations, rather than blaming circumstances.

2. Prioritize by Minimizing Opportunity Cost

In high-leverage roles, shift from prioritizing work based solely on positive Return on Investment (ROI) to minimizing opportunity cost. This means focusing on the best use of your time and resources, even if it involves ambiguous, high-upside projects, rather than just chasing numerous “quick wins” that only offer positive ROI.

3. Diagnose Root Cause Execution Problems

When execution problems persist despite temporary solutions or “band-aids,” diagnose if they stem from deeper strategy issues (e.g., unclear direction), culture problems (e.g., misaligned incentives), or interpersonal conflicts. Addressing these underlying causes directly is more effective than repeatedly solving surface-level execution issues.

4. Align Product Work Levels

Recognize that product work operates at three levels: Impact, Execution, and Optics. Understand your team’s and leadership’s default focus, and explicitly align on which level is most critical for a given situation to prevent conflict, ensure effective collaboration, and avoid miscommunication.

5. Optimize Time with LNO Framework

Categorize your tasks into Leverage (L), Neutral (N), and Overhead (O), then allocate your effort accordingly: maximize time on L tasks (10x-100x impact), perform N tasks efficiently, and minimize O tasks. To tackle difficult L tasks, use “placebo productivity” (fill preceding days with N/O tasks) and change your work location for focus.

6. Conduct Proactive Pre-Mortems

Early in a project, gather cross-functional teams and imagine the project has miserably failed six months from now, then work backward to identify potential causes (e.g., “tigers” for threats, “paper tigers” for perceived threats, “elephants” for unspoken concerns). This fosters psychological safety for voicing concerns, provides catharsis, and allows for proactive risk mitigation and action planning.