Chris Compston
@chriscompston.bsky.social
I build great product operating models, so you can build great products
Consulting: chriscompston.com
Newsletter: chriscompston.substack.com
Consulting: chriscompston.com
Newsletter: chriscompston.substack.com
Pinned
Chris Compston
@chriscompston.bsky.social
· Oct 21
Tech Hiring is Unravelling
A closer look at the hidden shifts in hiring, from the decline of generalists to broken interviews processes that are reshaping the future of work.
chriscompston.substack.com
Mass layoffs, tough economy, the rise of AI … even more concerning - these pressures are reshaping hiring.
Where is the evidence of care from companies? Where is the investment in inclusive hiring, meaningful culture, or a safe and supportive workplace?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/tech-hirin...
Where is the evidence of care from companies? Where is the investment in inclusive hiring, meaningful culture, or a safe and supportive workplace?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/tech-hirin...
Every product organisation needs someone that is thinking about how they operate.
It doesn’t have to be a Product Ops person, although that certainly helps.
But someone needs to be spending at least 75% of their time optimising product practices. It’s no longer good enough to leave that to chance.
It doesn’t have to be a Product Ops person, although that certainly helps.
But someone needs to be spending at least 75% of their time optimising product practices. It’s no longer good enough to leave that to chance.
December 1, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Every product organisation needs someone that is thinking about how they operate.
It doesn’t have to be a Product Ops person, although that certainly helps.
But someone needs to be spending at least 75% of their time optimising product practices. It’s no longer good enough to leave that to chance.
It doesn’t have to be a Product Ops person, although that certainly helps.
But someone needs to be spending at least 75% of their time optimising product practices. It’s no longer good enough to leave that to chance.
✨ Ready to make 2026 a breakthrough year?
My coaching blends a practical approach with 20 years of experience across.
🗺️ A clear and confident plan
🧭 Develop strong communication, influence and leadership skills
🏎️ Meaningful career momentum
Book a FREE discovery call: chriscompston.com/letschat
My coaching blends a practical approach with 20 years of experience across.
🗺️ A clear and confident plan
🧭 Develop strong communication, influence and leadership skills
🏎️ Meaningful career momentum
Book a FREE discovery call: chriscompston.com/letschat
November 18, 2025 at 11:34 AM
✨ Ready to make 2026 a breakthrough year?
My coaching blends a practical approach with 20 years of experience across.
🗺️ A clear and confident plan
🧭 Develop strong communication, influence and leadership skills
🏎️ Meaningful career momentum
Book a FREE discovery call: chriscompston.com/letschat
My coaching blends a practical approach with 20 years of experience across.
🗺️ A clear and confident plan
🧭 Develop strong communication, influence and leadership skills
🏎️ Meaningful career momentum
Book a FREE discovery call: chriscompston.com/letschat
My battle with the Scope Creep lasted for 6 sprints and was ultimately consumed by the darkness. Can anyone save this cursed project? scope-creep.xyz/share/lantern #theScopeCreep
The Scope Creep
A chilling tale of deliverables, deadlines and doomed decisions
scope-creep.xyz
November 17, 2025 at 10:22 AM
My battle with the Scope Creep lasted for 6 sprints and was ultimately consumed by the darkness. Can anyone save this cursed project? scope-creep.xyz/share/lantern #theScopeCreep
🇱🇹 This week I'll be in Lithuania! It will be my first time visiting the country as I open the Product Leaders conference in Vilnius on Thursday with my keynote - 'Make the Product Shift'.
👉 The event is SOLD OUT in person, you can still get the online ones here: konferencijos.vz.lt/produktu-vad...
👉 The event is SOLD OUT in person, you can still get the online ones here: konferencijos.vz.lt/produktu-vad...
October 28, 2025 at 1:32 PM
🇱🇹 This week I'll be in Lithuania! It will be my first time visiting the country as I open the Product Leaders conference in Vilnius on Thursday with my keynote - 'Make the Product Shift'.
👉 The event is SOLD OUT in person, you can still get the online ones here: konferencijos.vz.lt/produktu-vad...
👉 The event is SOLD OUT in person, you can still get the online ones here: konferencijos.vz.lt/produktu-vad...
Yesterday I had the pleasure of introducing my new talk 'Make the Product Shift', and sharing my approach of shifting from project delivery to product impact.
You can watch the recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7peX...
You can watch the recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7peX...
The Essential Shift: From Project Delivery to Product Impact with Chris Compston
YouTube video by UXCam: Product Analytics
www.youtube.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Yesterday I had the pleasure of introducing my new talk 'Make the Product Shift', and sharing my approach of shifting from project delivery to product impact.
You can watch the recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7peX...
You can watch the recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7peX...
Are we all here pretending that rapid prototyping is a new thing?
If we forget that the output is simply a prototype, that needs testing with users, the market is going to be a mess of poorly designed, buggy products.
Vibe coding, is jus prototyping with new tools.
If we forget that the output is simply a prototype, that needs testing with users, the market is going to be a mess of poorly designed, buggy products.
Vibe coding, is jus prototyping with new tools.
October 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Are we all here pretending that rapid prototyping is a new thing?
If we forget that the output is simply a prototype, that needs testing with users, the market is going to be a mess of poorly designed, buggy products.
Vibe coding, is jus prototyping with new tools.
If we forget that the output is simply a prototype, that needs testing with users, the market is going to be a mess of poorly designed, buggy products.
Vibe coding, is jus prototyping with new tools.
I'd never attended a Women in Tech event before.
As the only man, I realised what events must have been for women forcing themselves into an industry dominated by us.
Is there true equity across the tech industry? No, but we are getting there, slowly.
It's the men in the room to expedite this.
As the only man, I realised what events must have been for women forcing themselves into an industry dominated by us.
Is there true equity across the tech industry? No, but we are getting there, slowly.
It's the men in the room to expedite this.
October 23, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I'd never attended a Women in Tech event before.
As the only man, I realised what events must have been for women forcing themselves into an industry dominated by us.
Is there true equity across the tech industry? No, but we are getting there, slowly.
It's the men in the room to expedite this.
As the only man, I realised what events must have been for women forcing themselves into an industry dominated by us.
Is there true equity across the tech industry? No, but we are getting there, slowly.
It's the men in the room to expedite this.
Mass layoffs, tough economy, the rise of AI … even more concerning - these pressures are reshaping hiring.
Where is the evidence of care from companies? Where is the investment in inclusive hiring, meaningful culture, or a safe and supportive workplace?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/tech-hirin...
Where is the evidence of care from companies? Where is the investment in inclusive hiring, meaningful culture, or a safe and supportive workplace?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/tech-hirin...
Tech Hiring is Unravelling
A closer look at the hidden shifts in hiring, from the decline of generalists to broken interviews processes that are reshaping the future of work.
chriscompston.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Mass layoffs, tough economy, the rise of AI … even more concerning - these pressures are reshaping hiring.
Where is the evidence of care from companies? Where is the investment in inclusive hiring, meaningful culture, or a safe and supportive workplace?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/tech-hirin...
Where is the evidence of care from companies? Where is the investment in inclusive hiring, meaningful culture, or a safe and supportive workplace?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/tech-hirin...
Productized Conference in Lisbon has started!
October 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Productized Conference in Lisbon has started!
Can you imagine the mayhem this is going to cause …
October 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Can you imagine the mayhem this is going to cause …
Funding; the missing link in building outcome-driven product organisations.
We encourage teams to work in iterative, outcome-driven ways, to experiment, fail and learn, and adapt as they go.
Yet we still hold them to rigid, annual financial forecasts.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/where-fina...
We encourage teams to work in iterative, outcome-driven ways, to experiment, fail and learn, and adapt as they go.
Yet we still hold them to rigid, annual financial forecasts.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/where-fina...
When Finance Meets Product
Funding; the missing link in building outcome-driven product organisations.
chriscompston.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Funding; the missing link in building outcome-driven product organisations.
We encourage teams to work in iterative, outcome-driven ways, to experiment, fail and learn, and adapt as they go.
Yet we still hold them to rigid, annual financial forecasts.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/where-fina...
We encourage teams to work in iterative, outcome-driven ways, to experiment, fail and learn, and adapt as they go.
Yet we still hold them to rigid, annual financial forecasts.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/where-fina...
Reposted by Chris Compston
We like frameworks as mental models. They shouldn't be so restrictive as to *have* to be deployed in a certain way, but they can help with rigour, toolkit, good practice, and when the right one is deployed in the right scenario, be super powerful
October 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
We like frameworks as mental models. They shouldn't be so restrictive as to *have* to be deployed in a certain way, but they can help with rigour, toolkit, good practice, and when the right one is deployed in the right scenario, be super powerful
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a growing skepticism about frameworks in product management.
For me, frameworks are culture-shaping tools, they give every voice in the room a chance to influence the outcome.
#productmanagement #productleadership
chriscompston.substack.com/p/why-framew...
For me, frameworks are culture-shaping tools, they give every voice in the room a chance to influence the outcome.
#productmanagement #productleadership
chriscompston.substack.com/p/why-framew...
Why Frameworks Still Matter
... and always have for high-performing product teams
chriscompston.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a growing skepticism about frameworks in product management.
For me, frameworks are culture-shaping tools, they give every voice in the room a chance to influence the outcome.
#productmanagement #productleadership
chriscompston.substack.com/p/why-framew...
For me, frameworks are culture-shaping tools, they give every voice in the room a chance to influence the outcome.
#productmanagement #productleadership
chriscompston.substack.com/p/why-framew...
Sharing for my US based followers!
So close to 250 subs to my newsletter, might seem small but its taken a year to get there!
If you’re interested in thoughts on product management, design and ops, subscribe!
chriscompston.substack.com
If you’re interested in thoughts on product management, design and ops, subscribe!
chriscompston.substack.com
Chris' Newsletter | Chris Compston | Substack
Thoughts, principles, practices and frameworks enabling product leadership to maximise the performance and impact of their product organisations. Click to read Chris' Newsletter, by Chris Compston, a ...
chriscompston.substack.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Sharing for my US based followers!
So close to 250 subs to my newsletter, might seem small but its taken a year to get there!
If you’re interested in thoughts on product management, design and ops, subscribe!
chriscompston.substack.com
If you’re interested in thoughts on product management, design and ops, subscribe!
chriscompston.substack.com
Chris' Newsletter | Chris Compston | Substack
Thoughts, principles, practices and frameworks enabling product leadership to maximise the performance and impact of their product organisations. Click to read Chris' Newsletter, by Chris Compston, a ...
chriscompston.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 6:32 AM
So close to 250 subs to my newsletter, might seem small but its taken a year to get there!
If you’re interested in thoughts on product management, design and ops, subscribe!
chriscompston.substack.com
If you’re interested in thoughts on product management, design and ops, subscribe!
chriscompston.substack.com
Product operating models are often treated as an afterthought, something assumed to “just happen”.
But when designed well, it becomes a powerful enabler of adaptability, value creation, and organisational alignment.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/funding-fo...
But when designed well, it becomes a powerful enabler of adaptability, value creation, and organisational alignment.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/funding-fo...
Funding, Focus, and Flow
Designing a Product Operating Model That Actually Works
chriscompston.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Product operating models are often treated as an afterthought, something assumed to “just happen”.
But when designed well, it becomes a powerful enabler of adaptability, value creation, and organisational alignment.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/funding-fo...
But when designed well, it becomes a powerful enabler of adaptability, value creation, and organisational alignment.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/funding-fo...
Much like the hiring of new talent, the way organisations think about capability development needs a transformation.
Could the future of capability and career growth be in connecting personal development to organisational outcomes through AI?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/mangage-yo...
Could the future of capability and career growth be in connecting personal development to organisational outcomes through AI?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/mangage-yo...
Turn Yourself Into a Winning Product
Could the future of capability and career growth be in connecting personal development to organisational outcomes through AI?
chriscompston.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Much like the hiring of new talent, the way organisations think about capability development needs a transformation.
Could the future of capability and career growth be in connecting personal development to organisational outcomes through AI?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/mangage-yo...
Could the future of capability and career growth be in connecting personal development to organisational outcomes through AI?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/mangage-yo...
Measuring What Matters - Defining Product Ops Value and Impact
In our second Product Ops Leadership Forum call, we discuss; How are Product Ops teams measuring what matters?
Read more here: productopsleaders.substack.com/p/measuring-...
#productops
#productoperations
#productopsleaders
In our second Product Ops Leadership Forum call, we discuss; How are Product Ops teams measuring what matters?
Read more here: productopsleaders.substack.com/p/measuring-...
#productops
#productoperations
#productopsleaders
Measuring What Matters
Defining Product Ops Value and Impact
productopsleaders.substack.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Measuring What Matters - Defining Product Ops Value and Impact
In our second Product Ops Leadership Forum call, we discuss; How are Product Ops teams measuring what matters?
Read more here: productopsleaders.substack.com/p/measuring-...
#productops
#productoperations
#productopsleaders
In our second Product Ops Leadership Forum call, we discuss; How are Product Ops teams measuring what matters?
Read more here: productopsleaders.substack.com/p/measuring-...
#productops
#productoperations
#productopsleaders
We need to help teams let go off the illusion that there’s a single, correct way to 'do product'.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/best-pract...
chriscompston.substack.com/p/best-pract...
When Best Practice Becomes a Barrier
Having an MVP mindset and localised context for successful operational change
chriscompston.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
We need to help teams let go off the illusion that there’s a single, correct way to 'do product'.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/best-pract...
chriscompston.substack.com/p/best-pract...
Product Ops continues to resist simple definitions!
All attempts to reduce it to a single description or 3 pillar diagram unravel when it meets the messy reality of product orgs.
Change needs to be grounded in systems thinking rather than best practices.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/adapting-t...
All attempts to reduce it to a single description or 3 pillar diagram unravel when it meets the messy reality of product orgs.
Change needs to be grounded in systems thinking rather than best practices.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/adapting-t...
Product Ops; Adapting to the Need
Why One Size Will Never Fit All - Making Sense of Systems, Structures and Scale
chriscompston.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Product Ops continues to resist simple definitions!
All attempts to reduce it to a single description or 3 pillar diagram unravel when it meets the messy reality of product orgs.
Change needs to be grounded in systems thinking rather than best practices.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/adapting-t...
All attempts to reduce it to a single description or 3 pillar diagram unravel when it meets the messy reality of product orgs.
Change needs to be grounded in systems thinking rather than best practices.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/adapting-t...
Faster doesn’t always mean better. AI tools are generating measurable time savings and its great.
But the deeper question I keep returning to is whether these tools are actually improving the quality of product decision-making?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/busy-work
But the deeper question I keep returning to is whether these tools are actually improving the quality of product decision-making?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/busy-work
Product Management Busy Work is Over
New AI tools are lifting the weight, but PMs still have to lead towards outcomes
chriscompston.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Faster doesn’t always mean better. AI tools are generating measurable time savings and its great.
But the deeper question I keep returning to is whether these tools are actually improving the quality of product decision-making?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/busy-work
But the deeper question I keep returning to is whether these tools are actually improving the quality of product decision-making?
chriscompston.substack.com/p/busy-work
Being a product leader is not the most glamorous role.
And often senior product roles aren’t about being the best product thinker.
They can be dominated by executive alignment, longer-term business sustainability and sometimes investor expectations.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/hidden-work
And often senior product roles aren’t about being the best product thinker.
They can be dominated by executive alignment, longer-term business sustainability and sometimes investor expectations.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/hidden-work
Product Leadership's Hidden Work
When product becomes the business, leading through context is the key
chriscompston.substack.com
July 4, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Being a product leader is not the most glamorous role.
And often senior product roles aren’t about being the best product thinker.
They can be dominated by executive alignment, longer-term business sustainability and sometimes investor expectations.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/hidden-work
And often senior product roles aren’t about being the best product thinker.
They can be dominated by executive alignment, longer-term business sustainability and sometimes investor expectations.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/hidden-work
When product organisations struggle, they rarely lack talent, creativity or the operational practices in place to succeed - they lack ultimate clarity.
Lack of clarity can be a significant blocker to product success.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/ultimate-c...
#productmanagement #productleadership
Lack of clarity can be a significant blocker to product success.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/ultimate-c...
#productmanagement #productleadership
Ultimate Clarity; a Foundation of High-Performing Teams
Lack of clarity can be a significant blocker to product success
chriscompston.substack.com
June 24, 2025 at 10:38 AM
When product organisations struggle, they rarely lack talent, creativity or the operational practices in place to succeed - they lack ultimate clarity.
Lack of clarity can be a significant blocker to product success.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/ultimate-c...
#productmanagement #productleadership
Lack of clarity can be a significant blocker to product success.
chriscompston.substack.com/p/ultimate-c...
#productmanagement #productleadership
Reposted by Chris Compston
Tired of people bashing frameworks like they’re the reason your product sucks?
@chriscompston.bsky.social & I went off on the “framework hate train” in the new episode of Thoughts Unravelled.
TL;DR: It’s not the framework, it’s how you use it.
🎧 thoughtsunravelled.substack.com/p/tu04-frame...
@chriscompston.bsky.social & I went off on the “framework hate train” in the new episode of Thoughts Unravelled.
TL;DR: It’s not the framework, it’s how you use it.
🎧 thoughtsunravelled.substack.com/p/tu04-frame...
TU:04 - Frameworks Aren’t Your Enemy
Stepping up in defence of the usefulness of frameworks
thoughtsunravelled.substack.com
June 9, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Tired of people bashing frameworks like they’re the reason your product sucks?
@chriscompston.bsky.social & I went off on the “framework hate train” in the new episode of Thoughts Unravelled.
TL;DR: It’s not the framework, it’s how you use it.
🎧 thoughtsunravelled.substack.com/p/tu04-frame...
@chriscompston.bsky.social & I went off on the “framework hate train” in the new episode of Thoughts Unravelled.
TL;DR: It’s not the framework, it’s how you use it.
🎧 thoughtsunravelled.substack.com/p/tu04-frame...