As product managers - really as any sort of knowledge worker - we often find ourselves caught up in a swirling vortex of new market information, emerging strategies, client requests, and shifting priorities.

I’ve always found the simple habit of externalizing my thinking - whether through writing or in visual representations - to be an effective means of cutting through this noise.

So why should you bother to externalize your thoughts?

  1. Clarity: Externalizing our thinking forces us into organization and coherence. We often discover the gaps in our logic or unspoken assumptions as unexpected gaps and whitespace on the page.

  2. Communication: What do we do as product managers? We radiate information with the goal of creating a shared understanding. Externalized thinking becomes the seeds for other artifacts that can eventually be shared with team members, stakeholders, and clients.

  3. Iteration: Externalized thinking is by definition a tangible object. It can be interacted with, critiqued, and improved upon. Iteration is a fundamental driver of innovation.

  4. Memory Aid: Modern neuroscience informs us that our brains are quite fallible and most often concerned with conserving energy instead of retaining and processing information. Externalization serves as a physical extension of our memory. It allows us a mechanism to offload information and free up our limited cognitive resources.

Remember: your goal isn’t to create a masterpiece here.

The power lies in the process. By making your thinking tangible, you’re improving your own understanding AND creating the opportunity for collaboration, refinement, and innovation.