How can product marketing professionals manage stress?

Product marketing professionals can manage stress by separating their challenges into two categories: 1 - controllable factors 2 - uncontrollable factors For things they can control, like time management and workload distribution, they should use effective strategies to reduce stress. They should set achievable goals and prioritize wisely. When dealing with uncontrollable factors such as market dynamics or customer behavior, staying adaptable and informed is crucial. Open communication can help address concerns. This approach helps professionals maintain their well-being while handling the demands of their role.

It’s not only a case of identifying your stressors, but recognising those problems that are yours to solve and those that are someone else’s. Accept that you cannot solve everything, and focus on what is yours to solve. Equally so, it is vitally important to identify what is an activity that lowers your stress levels. Recognise when you are stressed and deploy those activities to lower your stress levels - sooner rather than later

Product marketing can reduce stress in a few ways, many of which have been shared by others. As mentioned below, the ability to say "no" is critical. There is always more input and "things to do" than there is time in the day. Second, network, network, network. Find the experts inside of the company, make great relationships with them and use them to help make better decisions. You are not alone with your product marketing. While there are other hints, the final one I will focus on is deep dive into your competitors. Having a deep knowledge of competitive offerings allows you to build literature and future products that are much better and tailored to win against competitors. Product marketing is a great opportunity!

As a product marketer, getting caught up in "all the things" can be really easy. Why? * everyone has an opinion on e v e r y t h i n g * there's not enough time for everything * product marketing doesn't always get budget * working with GTM teams can be messy, unclear * two words: fire drills To identify and manage stress, I've used journaling as a way to better understand what's frustrating me, where I'm overwhelmed, and to jot down current or upcoming projects that might become a stressor. Journaling and then talking it out with a career coach has been a great way to gain more clarity and awareness on my situation and emotions.

??In the fast-paced realm of product marketing, understanding and addressing stress is paramount for continued innovation and productivity. Strategies to Consider: ?Prioritization: Understand what truly matters and allocate time accordingly. ?Breaks & Downtime: Regularly disconnect to recharge and gather thoughts. ?Continuous Learning: Equip oneself with the latest skills and knowledge. ?Seek Feedback: Open channels of communication for guidance and support. ?Mindfulness Practices: Engage in activities like meditation or deep breathing. For product marketers, balancing the demands of the role with personal well-being ensures both success and sustainability.

I agree that ruthless prioritization is critical. RICE model (Reach, Impact, Confidencial, Effort) is a good framework to prioritize, making explicit the assumptions or expectations of the product managers. However the product manager will not be able to control the amount of requests that may come her way. Combining the above with a clear understanding of strategic priorities will help product managers to plan better. And finally, I think that to manage stress we should not forget that while the workload will always keep increasing, it's the nature of the game, every product manager is there to create value and to solve problems: if there were no problems, we would not have a job. So let's embrace the challenge...

Instead of getting burned out or becoming a blocker, take time to: * capture the current state and outline the future state * assess who needs to lead, follow, review, or get out of the way * ask questions to validate future state and RACI * communicate the right level of detail on next steps * make moves In fact, don't be afraid to pull out your plan and ask "so what should go or be delayed" as a way to have other members of the GTM team have to make hard choices and prioritize their work against all the competing and important initiatives.

Follow the Value and Complexity priority-setting framework. It will help you Identify high-priority tasks and projects and allocate your time and resources accordingly. It's easier said than done but try to maintain a transparent communication channel among your team and stakeholders. Be clear about what can and cannot be accomplished within given timeframes. It's hard in the beginning, but works really well in the long run!

One thing I learned from project management courses was how to prioritize work, chores, activities, breaks etc with detailed lists. People will have varying priorities day to day, but unless I have them written out, I'm less likely to complete any of them. Not only does the act of writing something down create a sense of permanence, it establishes a commitment to myself that I will complete it by the set deadline. For very important tasks or goals, I will also create a reminder on my phone.

Instead of getting burned out or becoming a blocker, take time to: * capture the current state and outline the future state * assess who needs to lead, follow, review, or get out of the way * ask questions to validate future state and RACI * communicate the right level of detail on next steps * make moves In fact, don't be afraid to pull out your plan and ask "so what should go or be delayed" as a way to have other members of the GTM team have to make hard choices and prioritize their work against all the competing and important initiatives.

I have regular 1:1s with my manager and project leads on my workload and moving priorities. I organize my 1:1 agendas in a pretty structured and detailed OneNote, allowing full viz on what I'm working on that week. These weekly meetings allow me to share blockers or areas I need support. In addition, talk through ways I should approach a challenging situation, capture feedback in real time, and adjust how I'm managing my time. I'm grateful to work on a team that allows a space for me to communicate and collaborate like this.

If you don't have free capacities, find a deadline together with the person who needs your support. Otherwise: Learn to say no. A phrase I tend to say a lot: “Not a priority right now, goes on my pile of shame aka backlog.”

I have two tips here. Firstly, once you have a clear narrative and marketing strategy around your product or solution, tell it often and loudly. This helps reiterate your priorities and boundaries. If something has landed on your plate and it doesn't fit the narrative you're trying to drive forward, you should push back. Secondly, you have to be proactive to gain respect and trust. Be voracious in sharing customer insights, results, ideas, and inspiration. Do not assume people will stumble upon them. By building trust and demonstrating value, you'll be in a better position to push back if something is not worth your time.

I've found that setting clear expectations upfront can mitigate stress down the line. Moreover, involving stakeholders in the decision-making process early on can also help in foreseeing challenges and preparing for them. Regular check-ins, even if brief, can create a supportive environment where everyone feels heard and valued. It's crucial to remember that while tools and techniques are essential, genuine human connections are at the heart of effective collaboration.

Working towards a common goal is essential because you and your teammates share in the wins and losses. Actively communicating and collaborating from the kickoff sets a clear path of the end goal. As captain of my college soccer team, I learned that the burden rarely falls on one person's shoulders. If we all know each other's responsibilities, we can help support everyone should they need it. Knowing my team has my back, eliminates a lot of unnecessary stress.

Just because you created a plan six months ago, doesn’t mean you have to still be working on that plan today. Needs change, the market changes, and if you aren’t regularly crossing items off your to do list that are no longer relevant, or will take you down a different path, and you’d like to be going down; and there is no better use of your time to start crossing things off . Saying no is a superpower.

As product marketing is such a fluid concept, the demands of the role can be hugely varied from company to company, and as such, certain skill sets can be underutilised if the need for it isn't there in your current role. Taking time to seek learning and perspectives from other companies and industries and keep your knowledge up to date can help you adjust your remit and tweak your approaches as your function evolves. Seeing and hearing that you are not alone in some of the struggles unique to product marketing is also very reassuring!

Invest in continuous learning to build confidence and adaptability. ?? Read books and blogs to stay on industry trends. ?? Take courses on new skills like digital marketing. ? Join communities of practice to exchange ideas with peers. ?? A growth mindset reduces uncertainty by expanding capabilities over time. ??

Commit to learning and be a sponge! Every interaction can be a learning experience if you choose to make it one. Failure is ok. I used to be so scared of failing that I wouldn't even try. When I reflect back on that time, I often think, what would be different today had I been willing to fail more. With each fail comes growth, but it must be a conscious effort.

Sunlight, mineralized water, exercise. Self-care is often overlooked in the pursuit of greatness. It's known that spending too much time in artificial light and staring at a screen is more harmful than good for our bodies and minds. Just standing outside breathing in fresh air gives me enough of a recharge to be the best marketer and dad.

Getting away from the keyboard, and meetings, is really important for a strategic role like this. You need to make time to think. I usually block off an hour throughout my day for walks, or other exercise. Getting out of the space where you spend most of your time can be the biggest factor in unlocking new connections from your ideas .

Recharging is critical for product marketing professionals. They are cross-functional and deal with strategic and tactical initiativies that impact a businesses' bottom line. I often find my self getting away from the keyboard and centering on these points: * it will get done * you can always make a change * bad mental health = bad everything else * everyone wants to feel connected * beauty is all around * count your blessings * no day is guaranteed * tell people you care about them * work is only one part of your life

When you're gearing up for a big launch, it feels like everything is GO GO GO. Don't feel guilty about taking time to recharge; whether it's going for a walk or just taking 20 mins for a cup of tea. Remember to limit your caffeine intake! The coffee jitters are real (and not conducive to your best work!)

Finally, balance work with self-care and recharge activities. ?? Set boundaries and delegate less critical tasks. ?? Make time for exercise, hobbies, family and friends. ???? Protect space for the activities and people that spark joy and meaning. Your well-being enables you to show up fully present and energized. ??

Acknowledge that done is better than perfect. I, for one, always want to make sure everything is 100% perfect, thorough, done properly and done to the best of my ability. I've had to learn to let this go when working in a fast-paced environment. Identifying the minimum viable output of what *needs* to be done, what level of output is considered "enough", and being happy with just doing that has really helped me to manage the stresses of PMM. Over time, as your skills improve, you'll find that you are naturally able to increase the quality and volume of your output as things become second nature. It's just about chunking tasks down and taking everything one step at a time.

Product marketers can manage stress by prioritizing tasks, practicing effective time management, fostering open communication, embracing self-care, and seeking support when needed.