As the year winds down and the holiday season invites us to reflect, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of delivering one more release or chasing the next big idea. But the story of the Three Wise Men offers us a timeless lesson in meaningful giving. Their gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – weren’t random or flashy. They were symbolic, deliberate, and profound, embodying purpose, trust, and care.
For product leaders, the holiday season is a perfect moment to reflect on the gifts we bring to our teams. Not the kind wrapped in ribbon but the enduring gifts that create the conditions for teams to thrive. Just as the Wise Men’s offerings carried deeper meaning, so too do the most impactful gifts of product leadership: vision to inspire (gold), autonomy to empower (frankincense), and feedback to grow (myrrh).
These aren’t seasonal gestures but commitments to building resilient, innovative, and high-performing teams. Let’s unwrap the lessons behind these gifts, explain why they matter, and discuss how they can transform your team’s journey into the new year and beyond.
Gold: The Gift of Vision
Gold, the Wise Men’s most precious offering, symbolised value and purpose. For a product leader, this means providing a clear and inspiring vision—a guiding star that lights the way for your team. Vision isn’t just about setting goals; it’s about connecting the dots between the team’s work, customer outcomes, and the broader strategy. It’s about answering the fundamental question: Why are we doing this?
A strong vision gives your team focus, alignment, and motivation. It transforms work from a series of tasks into a journey toward meaningful impact. Without it, teams can drift, chasing shiny objects or falling victim to “busy work” that doesn’t move the needle.
What this looks like in practice:
Tell a compelling story. Share where the product is headed and, more importantly, why. Make it about solving real customer problems and driving measurable outcomes.
Reinforce it consistently. A vision isn’t a one-and-done exercise. Weave it into planning sessions, retrospectives, and everyday conversations.
Empower prioritisation. A clear vision not only helps teams make decisions but also creates focus. If something doesn’t align with the vision, it’s easier to say no and concentrate on what truly matters.
Like gold, a well-crafted vision is a treasure that endures — it keeps your team focused, energised and united in purpose. But vision alone isn’t enough. To turn that purpose into progress, teams need the freedom to act. That’s where the second gift, autonomy, comes in.
Frankincense: The Gift of Autonomy
Frankincense, an aromatic resin often used in rituals, symbolises trust, empowerment, and the space to thrive. For a product leader, this means giving your team the autonomy to own their work, make decisions, and solve problems. Just as the Wise Men trusted their journey to divine guidance, a product leader must trust their team to find the best path forward within clear guardrails.
Autonomy is a catalyst for innovation and creativity. When teams feel empowered, they take ownership of their work, experiment with new ideas, and rise to challenges. Conversely, micromanagement stifles this potential, reducing a team to mere executors rather than creators.
What this looks like in practice:
Set guardrails, not roadblocks. Define clear priorities, principles, and constraints, then let the team determine the “how.”
Encourage experimentation. Create a safe space for the team to try new approaches, even if they don’t always work out.
Celebrate ownership. When the team succeeds, highlight their ingenuity and contributions rather than taking the credit.
Frankincense doesn’t just represent freedom – it’s freedom with purpose. The purpose comes from your vision, but the freedom lies in how the team achieves it. This balance fosters accountability, creativity, and engagement, turning a good team into a great one.
But autonomy without guidance can feel rudderless. That’s where the third gift, myrrh, comes in – offering growth through meaningful feedback.
Myrrh: The Gift of Care and Growth
Myrrh, an ancient symbol of healing and preservation, represents the care a product leader brings to the growth and development of their team. Just as myrrh was used to prepare for challenges ahead, this gift reminds us that feedback and learning are essential to building a resilient team capable of thriving under pressure.
For a product leader, myrrh is the gift of feedback and learning loops. It’s about creating an environment where continuous improvement is embraced, and teams feel supported in their growth. But feedback, like myrrh, must be used wisely. It should preserve confidence while sharpening skills and offering guidance without judgment.
What this looks like in practice:
Feedback as fuel. Use feedback to clarify strengths and uncover opportunities for improvement, ensuring it’s always framed as a path forward, not a critique of the past.
Celebrate learning, not just outcomes. Reinforce the value of experimenting and iterating, even when the results aren’t perfect.
Create a safe space. Encourage open discussions where teams feel empowered to share concerns, reflect on progress, and co-create solutions.
Just as myrrh prepares for future challenges, this gift ensures your team is ready for what lies ahead. It fosters a culture of resilience and adaptability, where each member feels supported in their journey to grow and succeed.
The Three Wise Gifts of Product Leadership
As the Three Wise Men gave gifts with deep meaning, so too must product leaders give gifts that resonate far beyond the holiday season. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh aren’t just relics of a distant story—they’re potent metaphors for the gifts that build strong, resilient, and innovative teams.
Gold: The gift of vision provides purpose and alignment, ensuring your team knows where they’re headed and why their work matters.
Frankincense: The gift of autonomy empowers the team to take ownership, experiment, and thrive within clear guardrails.
Myrrh: The gift of feedback nurtures growth, preserves confidence, and keeps the team on track toward delivering meaningful value.
Together, these gifts light the way, like a guiding star, helping teams navigate challenges and deliver their best work. As the holiday lights twinkle and the year draws to a close, take a moment to reflect on the gifts you’re bringing to your team. Are you inspiring them with a vision they can rally behind? Are you trusting them to find their path? Are you guiding them with meaningful feedback to grow and succeed?
These gifts genuinely matter – they are the ones that transform teams and the products and experiences they create.
So this season, lead like the Wise Men. Choose gifts that endure. Give your team what they need to thrive, and watch as they carry that momentum into the new year and beyond.