RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The 'Shape Up' method emphasizes setting a fixed time limit, typically six weeks, to define the scope of a project rather than extending timelines.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The 'Shape Up' method encourages teams to experiment and adapt their processes, allowing for a more dynamic approach to product development that can be tailored to different contexts.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

When shaping a project, we focus on what we can realistically achieve within our time budget, allowing for meaningful progress without overextending ourselves.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In shaping sessions, we aim to collaboratively define the project scope, allowing for flexibility in execution while keeping the end goal in sight.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The 'Shape Up' approach allows teams to take ownership of their projects by providing them with a clear understanding of the objectives and the freedom to determine how to achieve them.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The output of a shaping session should be a clear understanding of the project, including key components and user flows, rather than detailed specifications or mockups.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In a shaping session, we need to visualize the end goal before starting a project, ensuring that engineers, product, and design teams all understand the concept clearly.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The key to successful product development is to maintain clarity on both the problem we're solving and the solution we're proposing, ensuring that the team is engaged and understands their tasks.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

To effectively implement the 'Shape Up' method, teams must focus on addressing the biggest risks and uncertainties before committing to a project.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

It's crucial to involve engineers in the shaping process to ensure that the project is feasible and to identify potential challenges early on.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

I can have a really cool conversation about tradeoffs when we discover a project is more complicated than we thought.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Engaging in hard questions before a project starts enables us to ship something successful later.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In shaping sessions, we need to invite the right people to ensure we can make decisions quickly and effectively.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

A three-hour shaping session can be very productive for figuring out possible approaches to a problem.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

If the project is doable with existing technology, we can reach a conclusion about what's possible to build in just a few sessions.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The key to successful shaping sessions is having all necessary information in the same room to move quickly.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The role of the PM shifts upstream in Shape Up, focusing more on problem definition than project management.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In Shape Up, the PM is less busy with keeping projects on track and more focused on understanding the business context and narrowing down problems.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

When teams struggle with shipping, the root cause is often unclear input at the beginning of the process.

RS

Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

It's important to clarify what the problem is before moving into shaping, as this links to product strategy.

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Ryan Singer

03/30/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The demand-side sales approach helps clarify what people are trying to solve, which is crucial for shaping.

A better way to plan, build, and ship products | Ryan Singer (creator of “Shape Up")

Takeaways