S2:E12 - The Inside Job: Leadership, Self-Knowledge, & Communication Styles from the Inside Out

In this episode of Practical Product Management, we talk with Ryan Scott, Head of Product: AI and Innovation at DNA Behavior.

Ryan shares how learning his own behavioral style has shaped the way he leads, communicates, and builds product strategy. They explore how self-knowledge supports better collaboration, why it’s worth investing in shared language across teams, and how great leaders make space for diverse thinking styles.

A thoughtful and practical conversation about the inner work of great product leadership.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Self-Knowledge Is a Leadership AdvantageUnderstanding your own behavioral style—how you communicate, process, and respond—helps you lead with clarity and consistency.

2. Shared Language Builds Stronger TeamsBehavioral tools can give product and engineering teams a shared framework for understanding one another and reducing friction.

3. Good Leaders Ask Curious QuestionsRyan emphasizes the importance of inquiry over certainty, especially in roles that span strategy, innovation, and cross-functional leadership.

Questions for Product Managers

• How well do you understand your own communication and decision-making style?

• Does your team have a shared language for how you work together?

• Where could you lead with more curiosity instead of more control?