How do you learn from and contribute to a product manager community of practice?

One of the best product communities out there is the "Friends of Lenny's Newsletter" - this is tied to Lenny Rachitsky's substack newsletter and is a great place to find feedback, new ideas, and connections. The #talk channels in the community are a solid place to discuss issues related to product management, and #asks-and-feedback is a quick place to get help.

Learning from and contributing to a professional community of practice can be a valuable way to enhance your skills, knowledge, and network within your field. Start by identifying professional communities that align with your interests and industry. Look for organizations, forums, social media groups, online platforms, or local associations that cater to professionals in your field. Research these communities' reputations, activities, and goals to find the ones that best suit your needs. I love being part of Product League https://productleague.com/

Finding the right community is the key essential step. There are online communities, meetup groups for product managers. You may have one in your organization. Understand what they do and see if their objectives align with what you are seeking. Based on your objectives and stage your product manager journey, narrow on the community that works best for you. Join and meet regularly. Ask questions, help other with their questions. Key is to be active and contribute.

We have a phenomenal PM community of practice that meets regularly to share ideas, hash out issues together, get advice, and just touch base with each other. Building a community based on mutual goals and trust is the key here, so that everyone in the community feels comfortable opening up and sharing their thoughts. Great insights can come from anywhere, so make sure you're making it possible for everyone to join the conversation.

Joining the conversation and actively participating in a product manager community of practice is crucial for personal growth and building professional relationships. By actively engaging and contributing, you can create meaningful connections and gain valuable insights that will enhance your professional journey as a product manager.

Being part of Product League allowed me to co-create an ebook with a group of product leaders. It was easy and fun and we all brought plenty of ideas to the table. You should check it out here: https://productleague.com/ebook-interviewing-product-candidates-done-right/

This is the key differentiator between shallow networking groups and groups with intimate and deep engagement (aka "tribes"). This requires some face time and I believe can't be done effectively in chat-only communities. What has worked in the CareerClimb communities is 1) safe space to be yourself, 2) having peers that have a lot in common (product, being female in a male-dominated industry), 3) the structure and the framework that the coach provides in creating safe, honest and meaningful feedback loops that uplift (vs add to the critical voice in your head) and 4) everyone working towards a meaningful goal (we call them "quests"), so there is no "competition" but everyone can support their small group members in their own unique goals.

With emerging technology and changing consumer needs, the product management field is constantly evolving. In order to sustain in such a rapidly evolving field, you must keep yourself updated. Learning new things & practising them at work is the only way to grow in product management

You should definitely seek mentorship or coaching! Professional communities often have experienced members who are willing to mentor or coach others. Take advantage of such opportunities to learn from their expertise and guidance. Seek out mentors who have achieved what you aspire to and express your interest in learning from them.

There are various tribes out there. So much choice can be overwhelming. What has worked in my experience is a small intimate size, some form of safe space (especially for women) and the ability to engage deeply with a small number of people instead of shallow networking. I've been amazed at the life-long friendships that develop with people jumping on planes to see each other, referring each other for jobs and speaking at conferences and events together.