Best of 2022: What Makes Product Management Difficult?
Oct 4, 2023
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Jeremiah Nelson from Motorola Solutions joins the podcast to discuss the challenges of product management. They talk about understanding customer rubrics, the qualities of a good PM, and the importance of self-care. They also explore goal-setting methods and the role of teamwork in product management.
Product managers should prioritize their mental health to handle the demands and challenges of their role.
Creating a learning culture in product management can drive agility and better outcomes.
Inclusive product management is essential for understanding diverse customer needs and driving business success.
Deep dives
The importance of mental health in product management
Product management can be demanding, and it's essential for PMs to prioritize their mental health. They often have to deal with challenging situations, manage teams, and be the resilient one when setbacks occur. Taking care of mental well-being is crucial for both personal and team success.
The role of a product manager in creating a culture of learning
Product managers play a crucial role in creating an environment where learning is valued. They need to empower teams to provide open and candid feedback, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and be receptive to insights and feedback from various stakeholders. By creating a learning culture, PMs can drive agility and better outcomes in their organizations.
Different approaches to setting goals in product management
There are various methods and frameworks for setting goals in product management, such as OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). However, the choice of framework depends on the organization, project, and team dynamics. It's important to stay focused on the North Star, create clarity around the product vision, customer value, and cultivate an environment where feedback loops and learning thrive.
The value of inclusive product management
Inclusive product management is not only a moral imperative, but also a key driver of success. When product managers prioritize inclusivity, they are better positioned to understand diverse customer needs, drive better outcomes, and advance business objectives. The inclusive product management summit is an opportunity for product managers to learn and share best practices for creating more inclusive products and organizations.
The importance of active listening in product management
Active listening is a crucial skill for product managers. Being able to truly listen and understand stakeholders, customers, and team members helps build strong relationships, gather valuable insights, and make better-informed decisions. Listening is integral to creating an inclusive and collaborative product management environment.
In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board members Red Russak and Soumeya Benghanem welcome Jeremiah Nelson (Motorola Solutions) to talk about becoming a good PM in a difficult environment. Product management is a job that requires teamwork, team effort, and collaborative planning to successfully launch and eventually sell a product. It can become a difficult task and extremely challenging but with the people in the team, nothing is impossible.
Support for How to Succeed in Product Management is brought to you by Apptentive, which enables product managers to measure shifts in customer emotion and gather actionable feedback across the mobile customer journey. To learn more, go to Apptentive.com/UW.
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
07:46 When does product management become difficult?
10:46 What is the rubric that customers give you?
11:37 Indicators to help understand the customer’s rubric
15:19 Who should not be a PM?
20:12 Every PM owns the decision regardless of how it's made
27:09 You are not your product
29:49 What makes a better PM for API and technical products?
36:07 Get a detailed understanding of how things function
42:02 Goal-setting methods for a new project
46:24 Take care of yourself first
48:54 Being a PM is about the team you create
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