55: When Obsession is a Strength

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 Swapna Malekar (Microsoft) and Tony Poon (R-zero) to talk about whether having OCD is a superpower or a curse when it comes to being a PM. Product managers have to wear a different hat everyday, but if you're someone who pays too much attention to detail or gets too obsessed with data, how can you become a good PM?

The use of "OCD" a shorthand for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder within this episode is intended in the colloquial framing of concepts such as first principles thinking, deep curiosity and obsession with the customer, product or problem. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or heard on the How to Succeed in Product Management.

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
• 08:42 Is OCD a superpower or a curse for a PM?
• 10:39 Obsessive about being curious
• 12:11 The first principles thinking
• 13:25 Having too much attention to detail
• 15:50 Product managers being obsessed with data
• 17:22 How too much attention to detail can get in the way of product development
• 19:48 Application within the discovery & data analytics vs. solution & execution phase
• 26:58 PM having OCD
• 28:24 You can’t predict what a PM’s job will be everyday
• 29:20 Working with someone who has OCD
• 31:59 Time versus outcome
• 34:25 Becoming a PM post-COVID era
• 39:29 Being open to feedback
• 42:15 Retargeting becomes a collaborative work
• 46:16 Final thoughts