# 189: The Power of Your Team in Building Hardware Innovations

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2023-08-18
- Length: 18m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Paul McEnroe, the creator of the UPC barcode standard while at IBM, discusses the critical importance of team composition and communication in building hardware innovations. He explains how he assembled a diverse group of senior experts to develop the barcode system, emphasizing the need for complementary technical skills and a shared goal. McEnroe highlights specific leadership strategies, such as using debate skills to simplify complex technical concepts for executives and actively soliciting input from quieter team members to ensure all insights are captured.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations#t=0) Introduction: Paul McEnroe and the UPC Barcode Origin Story
- [1:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations#t=113) Assembling the UPC Development Team at IBM
- [5:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations#t=348) Key Principles for Building a Great Hardware Team
- [10:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations#t=608) Communication Strategies: Debate Skills and Empathy
- [12:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations#t=778) Leadership Tactics: Accessibility and Managing Personalities
- [14:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations#t=897) McEnroe's New Book and Technical Appendix

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- IBM (company)
- NCR (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Silicon Valley Press (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S4E48 Paul McEnroe | Inventing the Barcode (UPC) & Scanner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-15-s4e48-paul-mcenroe-inventing-the-barcode-upc-scanner) (Being an Engineer)
- [The Hero’s Journey Toward High-Level Hardware Execution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-21-the-heros-journey-toward-high-level-hardware-execution) (Over the Air)
- [S5E17.5 PDX: Roger Labrecque](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-01-s5e17-5-pdx-roger-labrecque) (Being an Engineer)
- [Moonshot Engineering Projects: Getting Innovative Initiatives Off the Ground](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-05-25-moonshot-engineering-projects-getting-innovative-initiatives-off-the-ground) (Over the Air)
- [S1E22 Being a GENUINE engineer/leader | Rob Newsom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-17-s1e22-being-a-genuine-engineer-leader-rob-newsom) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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