Product Management
- Collaboration.
- Experimentation.
- Small chunks of work.
Tactfully saying “no” is one of the most difficult skills to master as a product manager.
Not coincidentally, it’s also one of the most important, most valuable skills.
Product roadmaps aren’t predictions.
They’re instrumentation of your thinking about the problems to be solved and the priorities at which they might be addressed, based upon estimated velocity, known dependencies, and identified risks.
Use them to align on the future of your product.
Why is being a product manager such a great experience?
Each day is spent solving problems that really matter - whether it’s streamlining processes or enhancing user experiences or eventing new ways to accomplish goals.
You’re making a meaningful difference in the lives of your clients.
Whenever you will think other people are wrong about a given approach, check to see if you have any data available to validate your position.
If not, this is an ideal time for an experiment.
A big part of your job is to learn how to focus on the most important thing and ignore the noise.
Don’t underestimate the value of sharing how you plan to solve your customer’s problems with your fellow product managers.
Divergent opinions and unexplored alternatives only serve to hone the final product.
Validating your hypotheses as a product manager isn’t about being right - it’s about learning.
It moves you out of chaotic uncertainty and into confident execution.
Discovery isn’t a checklist; it’s a conversation.
You listen actively, try to ask the best questions, and generally let curiosity be your guide.
As a product manager, you relish understanding the nuances of your clients’ needs.
Agility.
Draw out the product planning calendar as far into the future as you can.
Dates will move and shift about as you continue to iterate but the calendar itself serves as the scaffolding upon which everyone can organize their work.
#ProductManagement
Lace up your clients’ shoes and walk the proverbial mile. Then go for a jog in them. Then do the training and run a marathon.
Empathy is the key to effective client discovery as a product manager.
Remember that you’re building for actual people who have problems to be solved.
A quote to remember when listening to clients about your product:
“The real secret to listening I’ve learned is that it’s not about me. I’m holding my cup out in front of me. I want them to fill my cup and not pour anything in their cup."
-Naomi Henderson
Remember:
Communicate clearly. Communicate clearly. Communicate clearly.
I asked Google Bard to tell me how to be the best possible product manager in a single sentence:
“Master the art of empathy, the science of data, and the power of collaboration, all with a relentless drive for making people’s lives better.”
I asked CoPilot: tell me how to be the best possible product manager in a single sentence:
“To be the best possible product manager, you need to prioritize ruthlessly, know the lay of the land, empower your team, influence without authority, and develop a thick skin.”
It cited 3 references.
I asked ChatGPT (3.5) to tell me how to be the best possible product manager in a single sentence:
“Anticipate user needs, communicate effectively, and prioritize features to deliver a successful product.”
You review your roadmap with clients to refine and renew the shared vision for your product.
Their perspectives may validate your hypotheses or serve as a catalyst for further adaptation and improvement.
User stories are more than just a list of tasks. - they’re the voice of your clients.
Product managers are wise to remember that good requirements bring this voice to the forefront of every decision.
“Lost time is never found again.” -Ben Franklin
Remember: being frenetically busy isn’t the goal - being impactful is. Time is a non-renewable resource in product management (and life!)
Use it wisely.
“Do you not adapt because you cannot conceptualize faster than the enemy’s adaptation?” -General James Mattis
Remember: chaotic situations in product management can lead to opportunities for improvement, innovation, and growth.
Stay calm. Stay focused. Lead by example.