Here's how you can enhance your communication skills as a product manager through assertiveness.

Assertividade consiste em você apresentar sua avalia??o, pensamentos, feedbacks de forma objetiva, porém sem elevar o tom de voz, fa?a de forma respeitosa, em tom ponderado. Monte sua narrativa e apresente-a de forma assertiva, clara, apresente limites claros, embora nem sempre eles possam ser aceitos inicialmente, atente-se que o objetivo final é ter um produto adequado dentro do que você apresenta e do que será aceito pelos clientes. Avalie a rea??o dos envolvidos, abra espa?o para o diálogo e discuss?es produtivas, aprenda a gerenciar as expectativas e manter o foco.

Assertiveness allows you to express your ideas, concerns, and feedback clearly and confidently without being aggressive. This skill is prevalent in negotiations, stakeholder communications, and team management, ensuring that your vision and expectations are understood and respected. By being assertive, you can advocate for your product effectively, influence outcomes, and navigate conflicts or disagreements productively. Moreover, a well-defined assertive approach boosts team morale and cooperation, as team members feel their contributions are valued in a respectful, constructive environment. This leads to better project outcomes and a more harmonious workplace.

Before entering into any conversation, define the objective and the OUTCOME you want to get from that conversation. Being a PM requires you to be alert at all times. Be truthful but also be intentional.

Being assertive implies expressing yourself in terms of vision, choices and feedback?while not negating the value of other people's effort and contribution. It's about expressing your needs and maintaining open channels of communication. Define clear objectives and performance indicators for your team that enable them to understand what is required and expected from each of them. It enhances transparency and builds trust in the long run. Use precise technical terms where applicable so that there is no room left for misunderstanding among all those involved.

As a Product Manager, assertiveness is about making your thoughts, needs, and opinions clearly understood. Assertiveness means expressing your point of view clearly and directly. To stand up for yourself and to be perceived as confident and self-assured. As others see that you respect yourself, they respect and take you more seriously. On the communication scale, it is in the perfect place between being too passive or too aggressive.

To be more effective in presenting your perspective as a product manager, first listen clearly and understand. This is not just about hearing words but grasping what your team is concerned about and thinking. You enable your team to feel valued when you prioritize listening. This rsults inclusive solutions that are also technically solid. Additionally, such an attitude shows respect for others and may stimulate greater two-way conversation which is necessary in order to make products successfully.

Something I often do is tell the person what I understood from what they said. This helps me to make sure that I've understood what I've been told.

Listening is foundational for everyone, but it's especially crucial for product managers. Here's why: 1. Understanding Stakeholder Needs: Actively listening to stakeholders reveals their needs, pain points, and expectations. 2. Building Trust and Rapport: Active listening shows respect and empathy, fostering trust with team members, customers, and stakeholders. 3. Gaining Insights: Listening yields valuable insights into market trends, competitor strategies, and customer preferences. 4. Resolving Conflicts: Effective listening helps resolve conflicts by understanding issues and finding solutions. 5. Improving Decision-Making: Listening to diverse perspectives leads to more informed decisions considering a wider range of factors.

Uma forma prática de obter a colabora??o das pessoas é deixar claro que você deseja ouvi-las e as valoriza. Desta forma, se você busca colabora??o e insights, apresente a necessidade e abra espa?o para que todos se sintam a vontade para falar, colaborar, questionar, incentive discuss?es respeitosas e abra espa?o para análise n?o exaustiva das ideias e pensamentos. Da mesma forma, quando você puder colaborar em projetos de outros times ou produtos, atente-se a ser proativo e participativo. Fa?a com que esse momento de compartilhamento seja focado, útil, respeitoso

Listen first Approach always works because you will get to know different perspective and it will tell you the mindset and thought process of the other team/person. It will also show the pain points they are facing, so you will get opportunity to solve and earn respect. It will you building long term relationship and trust and makes your all future convo smooth. Through this you can avoid unnecessary information and you can provide meaningful content.

My first mentor's words come to mind, "Yes, we often have arguments and disagreements in the meeting room. But everyone's common goal is to make the user's life easier. As long as everyone remembers this, those disagreements are worth it to arrive at good solutions." It's helpful to remember this to maintain one's calm in the middle of a heated discussion. And people always respond well to the calm voice in the room. Even go ahead and remind everyone of the vision to re-align everyone's talking points. If something gets repeatedly asked again and again, it should be documented in the correct PRD/One-pager/Confluence/JIRA. And everyone should be encouraged to read these to avoid going through the same things repeatedly in meetings.

Remaining calm allows you to think productively as a Product Owner. It is also very vital due to dynamic stakeholder, customer & technical requirements. Staying calm would allow you to remain focused on the top priorities and solve problems in an exceptional manner.

The way I deal with the problem will say a lot about the way we are going to solve it. I like to remind myself that, as a product manager, I'm a role model for many people in the company.

Conduzir reuni?es de assuntos mais críticos podem muitas vezes resultar em conversas acaloradas ou estressantes. Desta forma, o importante é estar atento como mediador e manter a calma. Dessa forma, você poderá garantir que o foco inicial da conversa foi mantido, que outros assuntos podem n?o ser necessários naquela agenda, avaliar informa??es contraditórias, falta de clareza e até mal entendidos. Sabemos que impactos negativos em prazo, custo, mudan?as de escopo, normalmente trazem conflitos, mas devem ser tratados e negociados, a partir de uma rigorosa avalia??o de impactos, riscos e planos de mitiga??o. Buscar neutralizar os conflitos será fundamental para que possa-se chegar a uma avalia??o adequada e real a situa??o em quest?o.

Maintaining composure serves as a cornerstone of assertive communication. Amidst tense or challenging discussions, retaining a calm demeanor is paramount. This enables clear articulation of your points and minimizes the risk of misunderstandings. As a product manager, navigating scenarios where emotions may run high—such as missed deadlines or feature disputes—is commonplace. By remaining composed, you enhance communication efficacy and establish a tone conducive to defusing potential conflicts, fostering productive dialogue. Your poised demeanor sets a precedent for professionalism and fosters an environment where constructive resolutions can be achieved, driving progress and cohesion within the team.

My advice is that body language and adapting what is being said to the listener can be practiced - so practice. If you have someone who is an authority on this, approach them and ask for help.

I would like to quote Jeff Bezos as he said, "Communicate assertively. It’s not only what you say but how you say it that matters." Non-verbal cues, such as maintaining eye contact and confident posture, speak volumes about assertiveness. As a product manager, leveraging body language during presentations or meetings reinforces the importance of communicated messages. A poised physical presence enhances the reception of your message and underscores your authority and self-assuredness.

There is a plethora of books and videos available on this topic. Personally, I find social psychologist Amy Cuddy's TED Talk, "Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are," particularly impactful. I have extensively applied the recommendations presented in the talk as an experiment, and the results are clearly visible. I highly recommend everyone to watch and practice this. It will enable you to exert influence and effectively lead in communications.

Use assertive body language. Some examples are shown below: - Make eye contact to show engagement and confidence - Stand or sit up straight with shoulders back to project self-assurance - Use open body language like uncrossed arms to show receptivity - Lean in slightly when speaking to demonstrate interest and conviction - Keep your facial expressions neutral or positive to avoid appearing aggressive - Use gestures sparingly to emphasize key points without being distracting

Projecting confidence is key! During presentations or meetings, I make sure to maintain eye contact and good posture. Strategic use of gestures can also amplify my points. Strong body language isn't about intimidation; it's about underlining the importance of my message and the product vision I'm advocating for. It all adds up to a more impactful presentation that resonates with the audience.

I learned a concept of top down communication where you first state the end result of what you want to say, clearly and concisely. If necessary, you'll get to elaborate on the subject. But this makes people see you as an objective person and will save you a lot of time.

Be clear and direct in your communication - Articulate your thoughts and opinions concisely and unambiguously - Avoid vague language, beating around the bush, or leaving things open to interpretation - State your needs and expectations clearly - Use "I" statements | Take ownership of your thoughts, feelings and opinions by starting sentences with "I" - Back up your views with data and reasoning | Support your opinions and decisions with facts, user research, market data, etc. - Be confident in your expertise | You are the product expert, so communicate with the self-assurance that comes with that - Avoid disclaimers like "I could be wrong but..." or "This might be a bad idea..."

Be assertive about what details one needs for solving the problem or for any kind of output needed for that matter. So for that you should structure your conversation with clearly defined statements and precise outcome that is expected. You should lead the discussion and pave the way towards a particular direction in order to help others to stay on the topic as well as to avoid beating around the bush. Keep it as lean as possible.

Enter conversations by making outcomes very clear. The clearer the better. Provide guardrails for arriving at said outcome and the parameters in which the discussion should be held. Demonstrate the progress towards the outcome mid-conversation by pausing and consolidating occasionally. By employing these methods you're preventing confusion and derailment. It's entirely in your hands to make meetings genuinely productive.

Clearly articulate your ideas, goals, and expectations using simple and straightforward language. Avoid jargon or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to your audience. Keep your messages concise and to the point to ensure clarity and understanding.

One tip is to be mindful of your word choice. Words like 'but' and 'maybe' can undermine the clarity and assertiveness of your message. Instead, focus on using positive, decisive language that emphasizes solutions and opportunities.

Communication is the lifeblood of any successful product management endeavor. It is through effective communication that goals and expectations are set, ideas are shared, and feedback is given. Without clear and open lines of communication, a product team can quickly descend into chaos and inefficiency. Some team members thrive on verbal or written appreciation and encouragement. They value words that acknowledge their efforts and provide reassurance. As a product manager, you can express appreciation for their hard work, provide positive feedback, and publicly recognize their achievements. This approach can boost their confidence and create a positive work environment.

Emphasize Solutions: fostering a proactive and problem-solving mindset within your team and stakeholders. Highlight Opportunities: Frame challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement. Optimistic Tone: Use an optimistic and uplifting tone in your communication to inspire confidence and motivation among team members, promoting a can-do attitude. Assertive Guidance: Guide your team through challenges assertively, providing clear direction and support while instilling a sense of optimism and determination. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate small victories and milestones along the way, reinforcing positive behaviors and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and success.

These strategies will help you cultivate effective communication and leadership skills in your product management role. A. Be clear and direct in your communication, confidently express decisions, and actively listen to others. B. Use positive framing when giving feedback, emphasize solutions over problems, and acknowledge team contributions. C. Develop emotional intelligence by being self-aware, empathetic, and composed. D. Seek continuous improvement through feedback, training, and consistent practice. E. Lead by example, modeling positive behavior and creating a supportive environment. F. Adapt your communication style to different audiences, tailoring your approach for maximum impact and fostering collaboration across teams.

As a product manager, adopting a positive language approach in your communications can be transformative. Instead of dwelling on issues, focus on presenting solutions and highlighting new possibilities. This positive framing helps maintain an encouraging atmosphere and motivates your team and stakeholders. By communicating in a way that emphasizes positive outcomes and constructive feedback, you encourage a proactive and optimistic mindset among your colleagues. This not only makes your assertiveness more effective but also helps in leading your team confidently through any challenges, fostering a collaborative and inspired work environment.

From my experience, one of the common triggers for conflicts is when someone starts advising the product manager on what to do and devalues their current focuses. Before reacting, one needs to realize that: 1. Those who offer advice have good intentions - they also want the business to grow, and their context implies a different understanding of how to achieve that. It’s important to understand their context and help them understand why it can’t be the top priority at the moment (or they might bring you a great idea). 2. It’s necessary to take into account that not everyone possesses assertive communication skills, and it’s important to carefully separate the meaningful part of what they want to say from the poorly wrapped package.

Here's how my Mantra looks like: - Do not always listen to respond, sometimes listen to absorb & observe for benchmarking & referencing at a later stage - Talk with datapoints & facts - Have confidence & backing of stakeholders in advance, before presenting & idea in a bigger forum - Use examples of competitor's play & market's real-time scenarios from past on similar situations - Have a lucrative Plan B in place - Avoid being dismissive on an immediate basis based on pre-defined bias - Think deep, Weigh well & then speak

Assertiveness is the secret sauce for product managers in communication. It's about active listening, using "I" statements, clarity, confidence, setting boundaries, giving constructive feedback, and confident body language. When conflicts arise, addressing them assertively leads to resolution. Seeking growth opportunities ensures continuous improvement. Mastering assertiveness isn't just about speaking up; it's about driving projects forward and fostering success through effective communication.

This is a VERY slippery slope, in my opinion. As product managers, we are making decisions to attempt to affect change in uncertain environments. It is far more important that we are pursuing truths than it is for us to defend our positions. "Asserting" is associated with defending ideas, as opposed to discovering them. In _The Scout Mindset_ Julia Galef explores this concept in depth. We are explorers and experimenters - trying to understand our customers, trying to anticipate our competitors, and trying to collaborate to create solutions which provide value to customers and to our companies. Asserting feels like the wrong anchor to me, instead, I lean towards inspiring.

To enhance communication skills, express your thoughts and address problems with more vigour. For example, in a team meeting, push for solutions backed by facts and confidently express your ideas. As you confidently voice your own viewpoint, attentively and courteously hear what others have to say. As a product manager, aggressive communication is critical to fostering mutual understanding and effective teamwork.