From Brian

Uncensored advice about product development and building a high-growth software company from Brian de Haaff, co-founder and CEO at Aha!

Collection899 articles
The secret exec battle behind RTO mandates
January 13, 2025
The secret exec battle behind RTO mandates

If your company has announced an RTO mandate or you sense one percolating, you are likely wondering how you got here. Remote work reversals are management challenges…

I am never too busy for you
December 9, 2024
I am never too busy for you

Super busy? Calendar overload? Brian de Haaff, Aha! co-founder and CEO, shares four questions leaders can use to prioritize the most impactful work and engage deeply with…

Who cares what they think of your product plans?
November 4, 2024
Who cares what they think of your product plans?

Product plans are always under pressure, pushed and pulled by internal and external forces. Brian de Haaff reveals how the best product managers make decisions with…

Strategy should not be so hard
October 16, 2024
Strategy should not be so hard

Strategy is not a list of hunches, priorities, or tactics. When people feel that strategy is just too hard, that usually means it has failed — because they were not…

The Minimum Tolerable Process
September 30, 2024
The Minimum Tolerable Process

What is the Minimum Tolerable Process? Many product managers are bogged down in too much process or spinning out from too little. At Aha! we think it is time to approach…

Is The Aha! Framework right for you? Use this new checklist.
September 16, 2024
Is The Aha! Framework right for you? Use this new checklist.

Imagine what your product team could achieve by removing unnecessary overhead and focusing on what is most essential. Follow these 10 steps to adopt The Aha! Framework.

How many process meetings should a product manager attend?
September 9, 2024
How many process meetings should a product manager attend?

Agile methodologies and product development frameworks help people make informed decisions and collaborate efficiently. But process pedantry never leads to anything good.…

The VP of sales would not stop asking me this
August 7, 2024
The VP of sales would not stop asking me this

Asking and answering questions is core to a product manager's job. Explain the 'why,' create an internal knowledge base, and encourage teammates to self-serve.

Are they forcing you back to the office?
July 8, 2024
Are they forcing you back to the office?

Blaming remote work for a company’s productivity is obfuscation. Mismanagement, unclear goals, no transparency into work, lack of urgency — these are the real culprits.

Introducing The Aha! Framework for product development
June 18, 2024
Introducing The Aha! Framework for product development

The Aha! Framework is a flexible model for improving efficiency and increasing value delivered to customers. It seamlessly integrates strategic planning and agile…

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