As a product manager, you have to lead a cross-functional team, collaborate with stakeholders, and communicate your vision and strategy effectively. But how do you do that in a way that suits your personality, strengths, and goals? What is your leadership style as a product manager?
Your leadership style influences how you motivate, inspire, and empower your team, as well as how you handle conflicts, feedback, and challenges. It also affects how others perceive you, trust you, and follow you. Therefore, understanding your leadership style can help you improve your performance, relationships, and results as a product manager.
Being on a product team with a bunch of strong-minded leaders means you have more challenges in asserting your leadership. It doesn't mean others lead the product. Only the product manager can lead the product. Take these 3 steps to step into leading your product: 1. Embrace opposing ideas: understand the motivations and opposing views of the team 2. Ask productive questions: your best questions to get the whole team thinking about results 3. Recognize results: No matter what, take the time to thank others for their help The product team naturally follows a leader who understands their challenges and recognizes their efforts!
As a product leader, it becomes our responsibility to guide the team without being in every interaction the team members has with dev, business and other teams. I prefer to be plugged to ensure that I can support as needed. This means as a leader, you need to let the product t managers do their job without too many suggestions. Strong product folks have strong opinions and the product leader has to cultivate a strong interaction and style and not be afraid to discuss an alternate approach. Essentially an all inclusive decision making with collaborative approach will set us apart as strong product leaders.
As a Product Manager I have no direct reports and at the same time I have to lead and inspire many different personalities and roles inside the organisation. Finding my leadership style was important because it enabled me to be authentic, communicate powerfully and at the same time be adaptive and respectful to my partners and stakeholders. My leadership style is based on trust: first trust on myself, my worth and work and then trust on the team.
You get what you ask for, the trick is learning how to ask for the right things... If I ask for a solution then I better be 100% right all the time. That's why I define measurable outcomes with the other executives and ask my product managers to identify, and validate the problems that are preventing us from attaining those outcomes. Once done, go fix that problem and learn as fast as possible.
I honestly believe that most people wake up in the morning with a desire to do something worthwhile with their day. To make a difference. Our job as leaders is to tap into that desire to get the most out of our teams. This involves building rapport and trust, but also setting goals and clear expectations. I lead the way I expect to be led. With enthusiasm, clarity, honesty, and purpose. Be understanding, and embrace mistakes as part of the learning process.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership, and you may have different styles for different situations. However, you can use some frameworks and tools to assess your dominant or preferred leadership style. For example, you can take a self-assessment test based on the six leadership styles identified by Daniel Goleman: visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding. Alternatively, you can use the situational leadership model developed by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard, which categorizes leadership styles into four types: telling, selling, participating, and delegating.
My leadership style doesn't fit into a category. It is a culmination of over 25-years of experience, mistakes, and learnings that have evolved me to the point where I am now. And to be fair to Hersey and Blanchard, any good manager worth her/his salt uses ALL FOUR styles interchangeably. I aim to be fair, collaborative, honest, and clear. I have had my share of great bosses (and bad ones) along the way...and I lead the way I would like to be led.
I discover my leadership style during my MBA via an assessment. At it was bang to the point i.e is coaching & it really works for me. Whenever I get opportunity to lead a team I do try to understand their motivation, strength, weakness & their inspiration before delegating any task. Just try to put yourself in their shoes would you like to work with full motivation which is forcefully assigned or misaligned to your interest areas. I am sure the answer is no :).
After nearly 25 years working with the same portfolio and the same internal and external customer group I recognise that you must make your own learning proces the top priority. Be self aware about your movements, tone of voice, gestures and hidden assumptions. Learning to watch your actions on video helps a lot. And yes old monkeys can learn new tricks. If it feels good for you AND you get the positive feed back in behaviour of your customers you are on the right pathway. And foremost ENJOY the voyage and be thankful for all the new things you will endeavour. KR Jeroen.
Leadership isn't one-size-fits-all; it's more like having a toolkit for different situations. I explore styles using Daniel Goleman's six—visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, commanding. It's like choosing a hat for the occasion. Also, there's Hersey and Blanchard's situational model—telling, selling, participating, delegating. It's my leadership playlist, ensuring I can adapt and lead in style.
Identifying your unique leadership style is a journey of discovery with lots of trial and error and learning by doing. There's a diverse array of styles, each shaped by personal traits and situations. This exploration involves discovering how you naturally lead and adapt in varied scenarios. To delve into this self-discovery, consider these three insightful techniques to assist you: 1) Gallup StrengthsFinder for Leaders: uncover your inherent leadership strengths, enabling you to lead authentically and effectively 2)The Big 5 Personality Types: gain insights into how these traits influence your leadership style. 3) Enneagram: look into your core motivations and fears, revealing how they impact your approach to leadership
Once you know your leadership style, you can use it to your advantage and leverage your strengths. However, you also need to be aware of your weaknesses and blind spots, and be ready to adapt your style to different contexts and needs. For example, if you are a visionary leader, you may need to balance your big-picture thinking with more details and guidance for your team. If you are a coaching leader, you may need to be more assertive and decisive in times of crisis or urgency.
My style is adaptive and is founded on the first principles of bias for action on the lines of “ maximum risk maximum reward “.
I'm all about intention in my leadership game. Being direct keeps me focused and effective, though I'm also big on reading the room for that perfect balance. It's a bit of a juggle, but hey, that's the secret sauce!
Man kann einen Führungsstil für sich definieren. Aber dieser zeichnet sich dadurch aus, dass man auf die unterschiedlichen Charakt?re und Pers?nlichkeiten der KollegInnen/MitarbeiterInnen eingeht. Es ist wichtig die Eigenschaften der einzelnen Personen zu kennen. Nur so k?nnen deren St?rken gef?rdert, Schw?chen berücksichtigt und ggf herausfordernde Situationen geh?ndelt werden. Der gegenseitige Umgang wirkt sich auf das Produkt aus.
I am intentional on what I want to achieve with each interaction and I try to read the room so that I have higher chances on being successful. I am quite direct as a person so sometimes this can be a bit challenging, but it helps me stay focused and effective.
Product Leader | CPO | Author | Mentor | Moderna | Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe | IIT, IIM
In my mind, leadership style and skill gaps are two distinct things. There might be skill gaps that you address through training and learning. Leadership style is more behavioral. You develop and evolve it based on self-awareness. Try to get honest feedback on your leadership style from your team and mentors, try to ask how you can be more effective. The more aware you are of your leadership style the more you can develop and evolve it.
Your leadership style is not fixed or static. You can always learn new skills, behaviors, and mindsets to enhance your leadership effectiveness and versatility. For example, you can seek feedback from your peers, mentors, or coaches, and identify areas for improvement. You can also read books, articles, or podcasts on leadership best practices and tips, and apply them to your own situations. Moreover, you can observe and emulate other successful leaders, and learn from their examples and experiences.
Actually I disagree that learning from others should be your primary way to develop *your* leadership style. Your leadership style (beyond the basics) has to do with who you are as a person: - your purpose - your values - your identity It will only feel authentic and trustworthy to those around you if it fits to who *you* are. So the most important resource to explore is you in your context. I found working with coaches extremely helpful in this. Only then did I start looking for other leadership tools that fit to me as a person. The inner work comes first, then you can look for inspiration from outside and truly develop a style that is fitting for you.
Evolving Your Leadership Style for Success Seek Feedback: Regularly get input from colleagues and mentors to identify improvement areas. Learn Continuously: Dive into leadership books, articles, and podcasts to discover new strategies and ideas. Observe Successful Leaders: Watch and learn from established leaders. Emulate their best practices to enhance your style. Apply and Experiment: Implement these insights in your daily leadership challenges. Tailor them to fit your unique context. Reflect and Adapt: Continuously reflect on your experiences and be ready to adapt your approach for better outcomes. Embracing these steps can transform your leadership approach, making you more effective and dynamic in your role!
Developing your leadership style is a dynamical journey rooted in the concept of 'learning by doing.' This approach involves praxis, applying theoretical knowledge from leadership literature to real-life practice. Broadly exploring books, articles, or podcasts provides theoretical insights. Seeking feedback from employees, peers, mentors, and coaches is invaluable for identifying improvement areas. Social practice theory highlights the importance of engaging with professional communities and networks that offer practical insights, inspire new ideas, and stimulate growth. This blend of active learning, reflective practice, and community engagement fosters a more effective, versatile leadership approach that responds to changing environments.
Product Leader | CPO | Author | Mentor | Moderna | Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe | IIT, IIM
Develop your leadership style (1) reading about other leaders. (2) Observing other leaders, (3) observing yourself, and (4) increasing self awareness by getting feedback from others on your leadership style
Learn from the best in the firm, your colleagues. Read books and articles of the greatest managers in the world which helps you grow in your levels.
Your leadership style is not only important for your internal team, but also for your external stakeholders and potential employers. You want to demonstrate your leadership capabilities and value in a way that aligns with your style and goals. For example, you can use stories, examples, or testimonials to highlight your achievements and impact as a leader. You can also use frameworks, tools, or metrics to show your leadership process and methods. Furthermore, you can express your leadership vision, values, and principles, and how they guide your decisions and actions.
Lead with transparency, and share information openly to keep your team informed. Offer clear directions, guiding everyone's role by articulating goals distinctly. Set the tone for effective communication by leading by example. Stay consistent to keep everyone engaged and aligned. Listen actively to your team, fostering an inclusive, collaborative culture.
Product Leader | CPO | Author | Mentor | Moderna | Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe | IIT, IIM
Be yourself. That’s your leadership style. ‘Being yourself’ is not static. You continue to develop and evolve based on your observation of other leadership styles, and the feedback that you receive on yours.
To showcase your leadership style effectively, create an 'Operating Manual'—a detailed guide outlining your leadership philosophy, decision-making processes, and how you interact with teams. This manual is a clear, comprehensive introduction to your unique approach. Complement this with Narrative Storytelling, where you share compelling stories from your experiences, demonstrating your leadership in action. These narratives can vividly illustrate your problem-solving, crisis management, team-building, and invention skills. The Operating Manual provides a structured framework, while Narrative Storytelling brings it to life with real-world examples, offering a more complete and engaging portrayal of your leadership capabilities.
The big leadership lessons for me were on how to drive the right culture. All things remain on paper unless you demonstrate the values you stand for as an organization. At Walmart we wanted to be the lowest cost retailer. This required all leadership decisioning to reflect that. Whether it was in commercial processes or new projects or new workflows. All pieces went through a rigorous ROCE and cost framework. This was across departments as varied as legal to marketing.
Clear instructions, result oriented, metrics is the most important which showcases your results. Transparency and regularly share the performance stats.
Your leadership style is not the only valid or effective one. You can benefit from learning from other leadership styles, and appreciating their strengths and contributions. For example, you can seek diverse perspectives and opinions from other leaders, and listen to their insights and feedback. You can also collaborate and partner with other leaders, and leverage their complementary skills and expertise. Additionally, you can challenge and stretch yourself by trying new or different leadership styles, and experimenting with new approaches and techniques.
Expanding your leadership toolkit by learning from other styles is a continuous self-improvement and development journey. Actively seeking out and assessing diverse perspectives not only broadens your understanding but also equips you with a more versatile approach to handling complex challenges in product management. Embracing opportunities to collaborate with leaders with different styles and experimenting with new approaches can lead to better problem-solving and innovative solutions and foster a more inclusive and dynamic work environment.
We never stop learning, no matter your age, experience or background. You should always be open to improve your leadership skills, after all two projects are never the same, you may have new members on your team, the market may change and so should you. To be successful you need to have as many skills as possible
Enhancing your leadership skills can be significantly achieved by learning from diverse styles. Adopt the concept of exaptation, where you creatively adopt and tailor strategies from various leadership domains to solve your unique challenges. This approach fosters innovation and introduces new perspectives to your leadership toolkit. Additionally, practice positive deviance by keenly observing exceptionally successful leaders within your context and culture. Analyze their methods and consider how you can apply their proven approach. Combining these techniques—exaptation for innovation and positive deviance for proven success—offers a robust path for developing and refining your leadership abilities.
When it comes to learning leadership, books and videos are cool, but for me, it's all about networking. Connecting with other leaders gives me the real scoop on different styles.
Knowing your leadership style is the key and the first step. And the next step would be to learn the context. For example, when it comes to diverse environments, it's super important to understand cultural differences. What's the preferred leadership style in the culture you are in? What are the expectations from a leader? How should you interact with others? It doesn't necessarily mean changing your style. However, open communication and a willingness to adjust if needed are essential. As a result, embracing cultural awareness can level up your leadership skills.
Someone told me that if engineers had more empathy, Product Managers would not exists. My personal experience is that leading as a PM can be draining because too much empathy is required... PMs can be angry/frustrated/tired and when that happens, we need to take some time off to recharge. Don't push yourself harder, just take a break and give yourself some extra love. Your mojo will come back.
What I have learnt in my journey is that Leadership style is not static, it evolves as we are open to learn and be inclusive These days the learning curve is faster for each one of us, leadership is easy sometimes and difficult as well ??as most of us well learned. I have learned / learning to think about why others are objecting/ or alternate ideas be it founder or the team member, do a reasoning then discussion with the team, let the merit always win, so the product will win and so the company eventually
In addition to the prior suggestions, product managers must emphasize continuous learning to stay updated with industry trends, methodologies, and technology, as this positions you as an informed, proactive leader. Engaging in mentorship and coaching is equally important to provide fresh insights. Cultivating a feedback culture within your team encourages open communication and continuous improvement in leadership skills. Additionally, actively promoting diversity and inclusion fosters a more innovative and cohesive team environment. It broadens your leadership perspective, allowing you to harness a wider range of ideas and approaches. These elements combined are a strong foundation for effective, adaptive product management leadership.
Leadership has to influence company outcomes. Specially in a function like product which influences the direction of certain companies like SaaS, marketplaces etc. So it's important to articulate the not just within the function but to the larger org through regular communication on direction we are taking. The more collaborative this is made, the better is the acceptance by other functions.