Jack Houghton - Chief Product Officer

I am Manchester based. I love really great products, the process of creating something and putting it out there, I love the way technology, culture and people shape each other. Luckily, this means I tend to love work too. Other than that, exercise is the only thing that keeps me sane; football, climbing, swimming, running, diskgolf (but never real golf).

Roles

• Leader of Product Team

• Member of the Core Team

• CPO, Co-founder & Board Director

Personal values

• Exceptional: I love being around exceptional people who care deeply about their craft (work or non work related). Being exceptional means being an exception. These are people who always push themselves, are curious, passionate, are willing to do scary things, create high quality output (whatever that output is), are resilient, and not doing things 'just to get them out the door' or because thats 'how things are always done'. Thats why I love the Mindset team.

• Self-Aware: I am introspective, care about being skilful and improving. I am always really open to feedback and don't often make that mistake again.

• Being realistic & dependable: This is something I used to struggle with, but over time has become extremely important to me. I will always try to be clear with people for when I can get something done. I will then do it. I expect others to be clear on where things are at that are important and what comes next too.

• Trust: I am loyal and do not betray trust. If I have a problem with someone or they with me, no matter how big or small, I expect them to speak with me directly. I will always do the same. Once trust is lost, its not easily earned again.

• Space: I love autonomy and space to do my thing. I like being set big goals or setting big goals and not having a clue how to get there. I love the feeling of excitement and uncertainty of that process, working with the team and getting through it all. Having space to do my thing makes me more confident, determined and passionate. The opposite is also true.

Achilles heels

• Saying Yes: I am passionate about many things, especially when it relates to the product, team or business. Product often sits at the intersection of many teams. Sometimes this means I will say yes too often and let myself get pulled into too many projects. It's something I am working very hard on, but do please tell me to shut up if you see it happening :)

• Frustration when 'everything is important' & I see no progress: If we have decided something is actually important, it should be done now and we should delete everything else. Nothing annoys me more than hearing that everything is important at the same time. Would rather us do less but do it faster and to a higher quality. I get a huge amount of energy from quality work, momentum and progress. When things feel like they are not happening quick enough, or too many things are happening that are not important/ impactful, I feel very frustrated.

• High Standards: I have high standards for myself and others. This means I am impatient when it comes to improving certain things that are not reaching this standard. I do not do things in half measures, I care deeply about what I do.

• Being Clear: I hate it when i do it (often I realise very quickly) but sometimes I over over communicate and as a result, I am not being clear enough. Tell me to get to the point, I take no offence. I look forward to taking this off my bio.

How to get the best out of me

• Be direct and clear: I learn quick when I understand the problem. If you are annoyed with me, need me to do more or less of a thing, or have any feedback, just tell me straight.

• Be a leader: Telling everyone the house is on-fire is unhelpful. I love to see people step up, be a leader, ask themself 'who is the person that should be responsible', 'what process is failing' or 'what can I or others do about this', then go for it. Everyone should act as leaders.

• Deep Work: If we decide something is important, then drop everything else and get that done really quickly. Equally, let me do that too. Nothing frustrates me more than everything being critical. If everything is important, nothing is important. I love being able to get into a flow and for us to see output.

• Take action, set a deadlines & move fast: I love it when we take the bull by the horns, owns something and runs with it. I love a deadline where we all pull together and get things done. Bias for action and not waiting for permission is exciting and empowering.