Creating the right environment for feedback
An important factor is how you introduce the session when you show someone a prototype. We have a dedicated chapter to that (the last chapter in this course), and it is important that you create the right environment where the person viewing the prototype:
Feels safe to give feedback
Knows that they should not filter their thoughts
Are clear about what in particular you are interested to learn more about
Does not feel like they will hurt your ego if they say something negative
Tips for the interview:
Take the pressure off: tell the person this is just a quick version done without any real thought.
Do as little intro as possible.
Ask the person to talk out loud as they use it.
Shut up as much as possible.
Listen if they ask "where something is."
If they ask you a question out loud, then this is what they will be thinking in their heads!
Bias-Free Interviews
In another of my courses, "Doing Product Research", I cover the subject of customer interviews in greater depth, discussing:
how to identify the right people to interview
how to manage interviews
how to find people to interview
how to know if interviewees are being truthful!
how to take notes after an interview using the Customer Interview template
For now, let me show you a video of 6 interview mistakes that will give you the highlights of how to (and how not to!) interview customers.
Closing Thoughts
We have covered a lot in this course! Thank you for taking this course with me. I appreciate the time and effort that you have put in, and I know that the skills in this course will help you to avoid building products that nobody wants! A prototype approach means that you get feedback earlier, iterate more often and get direct contact with target customers showing them realistic experiences and watching their reaction. All of these skills are at the heart of being a good product manager.
The single best thing you can do next is to take an idea you have and create some paper sketches, a paper prototype, some screens in Sketch and create a prototype in InVision and install it on your phone. Once that happens, then the skills will become of real benefit to you in your everyday life. You do have to go through this cycle several times to master it.
I'm grateful to you for the hard work you put in. See you in another course here on OpenClassrooms!
