How can you join product manager communities that align with your values and interests?

As a beginner product manager, I think it's important to find a community that is welcoming to beginners and offers resources to help us learn the basics. At the same time look for communities that specifically cater to the area of product management you're interested in. This could include topics like agile methodologies, user experience, product development, etc. And lastly, make sure the community regularly shares the latest trends, industry news, and updates in the field of product management that will help you stay relevant.

If you are getting started as a PM, it's better to join generalised communities where you can learn the basics and the different industries that people are working in. You can also connect with other people who are just starting out.

For example, if you want to learn more about product-led growth, you may want to join a community like Product-Led Alliance, which offers events, courses, and resources on this topic. Having a clear objective helps you navigate and benefit from the vast array of communities available, ensuring that your engagement is both meaningful and aligned with your career goals. Remember, the right community can be a catalyst for your growth, providing support, knowledge, and opportunities to excel in your product management journey.

From a personal experience in establishing different communities including a last one in Egypt on Non-Tech product management. I have found that several product managers usually have a specific pain that they need a gudiance and mentors and people with experience that they can turn to to ask for advice and leadership in their field that can help them grow outside of their work environemnt where they would be more comofrtable and open so my advice to all product managers is to Identify what you want to achieve from this community into 5 main buckets 1) Learning 2) Networking 3) Mentorship 4) Giving Back 5) Advancing your career and based on these 5 buckets you can easily define how to approach and which community

With technology becoming an integral part of any product, I feel today's PMs roles have shifted a bit. now more than ever, it is critical to understand if the community caters to technical Product Manager, or Business or does welcome both

Some examples of popular product manager communities are Product School, Mind the Product, Product Hunt, Women in Product, and Product Management Festival. You can also look for local or regional communities, such as Product Tank, which organizes meetups in over 200 cities worldwide. These communities offer a wealth of resources, networking opportunities, and support that can help you achieve your career goals. When I first started, joining these communities provided me with valuable insights and connections that have been instrumental in my career. Don't hesitate to dive in and explore what these communities have to offer. #ProductManagement #ProfessionalNetworking #CommunitySupport

While researching, think about how your objectives for joining a community aligns with a particular community. If you are looking to upgrade your skills and receive real-world experience or 1:1 coaching, will you be able to access those in different communities. Are you looking in particular for more inclusive communities? I will add one more amazing community for Product Managers here and it is called PMDojo a global learning community that empowers people coming from diverse backgrounds and experiences with real-world and industry experience, career support, mentorship, 1:1 coaching to help accelerate people's careers in tech and product.

also, while researching, think about how you want to contribute as well as gain from the community. for ex: you want to become a founding member, or wat the organization to include you as a speaker based on topic at the same time, what do you want from the community

To choose the right product manager community, consider its culture, diversity, and content. Ask yourself: Do they share the same values? Is there a variety of perspectives? Is the content valuable and relevant? Check if the size, mission, and engagement level suit you. Have a process: research the community, reach out to members, and try it out. Remember, not all communities will be a good fit. It's okay to move on if it doesn't feel right.

Join a High-Value Product Community. The right product community accelerates growth. But quality matters. When selecting a group, assess discussion value. Are insights practical and constructive? Is engagement consistent and thoughtful? Vet member expertise, too. Do profiles showcase depth? Is leadership strong? A poor fit wastes time and stalls progress. But an aligned community unlocks shared wisdom. It energizes leveling up. It forges connections to propel you forward faster.

You can also read reviews, testimonials, or feedback from current or past members. You want to join a community that resonates with you, supports you, challenges you, and inspires you. For example, when I was looking for a community to join, I focused on those that emphasized collaboration and continuous learning. I read through member testimonials and observed the discussions for a few weeks. This helped me identify a group that not only aligned with my values but also offered diverse perspectives and constructive feedback. Taking the time to evaluate potential communities ensures that you invest your time and energy in a space that genuinely enhances your professional growth.

A simple way to get started with a community is approaching it part by part. It's impossible to be able to follow up on all the channels and discussions. But setting aside some time every week, finding 1-2 meaningful channels within the community, and trying to approach one person at a time really helps. Some of the good peer learnings could happen outside of the work setup, and fortunately, product communities have helped me with that. Acting with intent happens only when we're ready to show care and attention—if you do 1:1 with someone, the next week could be participating in a group event, and the next time it could be sharing something that you read you think would be helpful for others. Compounding actions is the best way to start.

Community is best when members understand that the value comes from connections with each other, and not just with the community leader. It's very different than the "audience" model you find on LinkedIn and many groups. Comment, ask questions, suggest that someone else talks to a specific person you know who can help them.

You should also follow the community rules, norms, and etiquette, and respect the opinions and perspectives of other members. By engaging with the community, you can build trust, rapport, and relationships that can benefit your personal and professional growth. For instance, when I joined a product management community, I started by introducing myself and sharing a recent challenge I faced. The support and suggestions I received were incredibly helpful. I then made it a point to contribute regularly, whether by sharing articles, answering questions, or participating in discussions. This active engagement not only expanded my knowledge but also connected me with like-minded professionals who have become valuable contacts and friends.

A quick way to hone your craft is to write. PMs need to express themselves clearly and effectively in writing. Pick a weekend project to improve yourself and then create a LinkedIn article about what you learned. Be willing to showcase your self improvement journey.

I also recommend engaging and supporting these communities for talent, technology and idea sessions. these communities have a lot to give and a lot they need. Make it an effective two way process for ling term relationship

You can also invite or refer other product managers who may benefit from or add value to the community. By contributing to the community, you can demonstrate your expertise, leadership, and generosity, and make a positive impact on the product manager ecosystem. For example, I once organized a virtual meetup for a product management group to discuss emerging trends. This not only sparked valuable conversations but also fostered a sense of camaraderie among members. These contributions strengthened my reputation as a leader and enriched the community. By actively creating value, you enhance both your professional growth and the vitality of the community.

Here are things that worked for me: - Find online communities - Attend industry events - Contribute to open-source projects - Start my own - Attend a workshop or take and join Slack communities like Product Club by Shreyas Joshi. Example: As a Product Lead at a B2B startup in real-time analytics and anomaly detection space, I will be interested in joining a community that focuses on real-time analytics, data science, and machine learning. I could find an online community like Apache Pinot or KDnuggets or attend an industry event like the Strata Data Conference. I could contribute to an open-source project like ApachePinot or Tensorflow or start my own community or join a community led by influencers.

One additional insight I'd like to share is the importance of cultivating a growth mindset in product management. The ability to embrace challenges, persist through obstacles, and see effort as the path to mastery is crucial for success. Early in my career, I faced a major setback when a product launch did not meet expectations. Instead of viewing it as a failure, I took it as an opportunity to learn and grow. I analyzed what went wrong, sought feedback, and iterated on the product. This experience taught me that setbacks are not the end but rather stepping stones to improvement. Adopting a growth mindset has since helped me tackle complex problems with resilience and creativity.

Diverse Perspectives: Ensure the community encourages diverse voices and perspectives. A mix of backgrounds and experiences can provide richer insights and foster innovation. Time Commitment: Gauge how much time you can realistically commit to a community. Engaging deeply in one or two communities may be more beneficial than spreading yourself thin across many. Feedback Mechanisms: Look for communities that prioritize feedback, both in terms of giving it and receiving it from members. This ensures continuous improvement and alignment with members' needs.

Gender and age consideration is critical. To grow and innovate, encourage a mix of both genders across different demographics. The same challenge/milestone can be resolved in multiple ways by an individual of different demographic I also feel some of the communities should support coaching sessions to help the individual grow