Most of us know that as a new martial arts student, you start as a white belt and progress through various hues to black.  There are also achievement milestones within each belt, usually called a stripe.

In short, there’s a maturity model in the martial arts. White belt to black belt. 

I used to teach a martial art called Kenpo (as a head student).  My responsibility was to train the new students in a class just for us when they joined the school.  First, I would help them settle into the flow of a class.  For example, coach the new student on where to stand and how to enter & exit the school training floor.  I also taught them their first kicks, blocks, punches, and breathing techniques.  

Then, when they joined the regular class in session, they would blend in seamlessly, having been acclimated to how a class runs.  My teaching was part of my growth to a black belt.

Within a martial arts maturity model are categories to measure progress, such as proficiency in belt-appropriate kata, one-steps, class participation, sparing, and attendance, to name a few.

Do you have a maturity model for your product team? 

If not, how do you know you are getting better as a team? 

Do you have a plan for how to get better as a team? 

A maturity model can help you be a better product leader.

In the martial arts, it’s plotted out, belt by belt.  In product management, we need to do the same.

Google “product management maturity model” when you have a moment. 

A favorite, which I’ve modified for my use, is from the Product Focus folks (https://www.productfocus.com/).  (I have no affiliation with them.  But, just like their approach.)

The six categories I use are Leadership, Organization, Metrics, Process, People, and Systems.  Within those categories, I have measures to show advancement—the progress tracking in my model has five tiers (think white belt to black belt). 

I work with my direct reports to tune the measures appropriate to our business.  My managers have a say in how they, and the teams, are getting measured.  And we have a progression path, just like the martial art Kenpo.

Be bright.  Be brief.  Be done.

Rob