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.
“Whether we think we can or think we can’t, we’re right.”
-Henry Ford
#Quotes
“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”
-Bruce Lee
#Quotes
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.”
“We will all experience one pain or the other - the pain of discipline or the pain of regret - but the difference is that the pain of discipline weighs only ounces while the pain of regret weighs tons.”
-Jim Rohn
#Quotes
“Search others for their virtue, and yourself for your vices.”
-Buckminster Fuller
#Quotes
Remember the fundamentals of good product management :
- hypothesize market-fit
- test market-fit
- align and focus resources
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.
The curse of the 21st century: Focus is absolutely essential yet we live in a time of wonders.
“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk."
~Doug Larson
#Quotes
“Beware the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world.”
- Ben Okri
#Quotes
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.
“Where facts are few, experts are many.”
-Donald R. Gannon
#Quotes
“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.
If every day is spent pingponging back and forth between raging fires as a product manager, something is broken.
It’s your job to fix that.
If that sounds overwhelming, start by looking for the (tiny) incremental improvements that will persist over time.
#ProductMamagement