How can you ensure a successful onboarding experience for new product managers?

The objectives of a product manager can be vastly different based on the stage of the product and the organization. To ensure successful onboarding: a) Create a 30-60-90 day plan, that has clear and realistic expectations for the first 3-month tenure. b) Pair them up with a buddy who can help them get up to speed on the business details. c) Assign a mentor who they can reach out to for anything at all, be it related to business, culture or ways of working. d) Define tangible deliverables / goals for the product manager to shoot for during this period. e) Meet with them on a weekly / bi-weekly cadence to track their progress against the plan and provide early inputs to course correct.

Based on my experiences, not just as PM but in corporate so far: 1. Set clear expectations. Whether it's an internship or full-time role, create a weekly/monthly onboarding plan for the first 1-2 months. 2. Assign a PM mentor. Preferably someone from the same team with more experience to provide guidance on PM-related queries, from business objectives to day-to-day tasks. 3. Assign a buddy for informal support. The buddy should be unbiased and non-judgmental to create a safe space for the new member to open up. 4. For managers: To not be vague. Be specific with feedback, have check in milestones, and truly make an effort to get to know the person. As they say "People don't leave bad jobs. They leave bad managers."

Help them understand the unique business context of their new job. Help them learn about customers, suppliers, business model, organization, and processes. Ensure they are not starting with copy pasting from their past experiences. Ensure they understand the pitfalls of doing so.

Integrating new managers into a company is frequently neglected after the hiring stages. It's a common misconception that individuals will either already possess the necessary skills or will acquire them while working. Thats wrong. When new employees start a job, they are usually full of hope and excitement. However, this initial enthusiasm can quickly become confusion and disillusionment without proper guidance. New employees are eager to acclimate, understand where to find the needed resources, and efficiently perform their duties. A few steps for a smooth onboarding process: - Set up their email account upfront - Intro them to their team - Set intro list across the company - Explain the company terminology and tooling - Have lunches

Product Managers drive impact by building products that fill a gap or a need. Therefore, in my experience, getting them involved in projects right away is the most effective way to get them to learn a.k.a. build their perspective. It's important to carve out a slice of the project in a meaningful way, that gives them end-to-end exposure across the project lifecycle. It should involve customer meetings, UX design inputs, User Research sessions, MVP definition, launch of the MVP with a tech team and review of metrics with partners / stakeholders. This approach enables the Product Manager to build valuable relationships, and provides 360 degree feedback that sets them on the right track.

Product managers are a bridge between different functions. It is therefore critical for them to know their stakeholders and build a strong working relationship with them. As a part of their 30-60-90 day onboarding plan, provide them with a list of stakeholders they should connect with, indicating the role of each stakeholder. This detail will allow the product manager to distinguish between stakeholders they will partner with to build the solution vs the ones who are users / consumers of the product they build.

For a successful onboarding experience for new product managers, focus on three main areas: People: 1. Establish clear expectations through discussions with the CEO or your manager. 2. Arrange one-on-one meetings with every team member. Product: 1. Schedule a detailed walkthrough of the product's technical architecture with your lead engineer. 2. Engage directly with users and address issues promptly. Processes: 1. Thoroughly read existing materials and document any missing information, or write if already not written. 2. Define personal goals to guide your onboarding journey.

From the other angle, As a new PM it is important to not start throwing around ideas or skepticism about the product or the team you’ll be working with. Instead be curious about: - How the current processes work? - How are decisions taken? - What do the analytics look like? - What do customers feel about the product and why? Diving deeper into these answers will ensure a faster onboarding from your end as well.

To ensure a successful onboarding experience for new product managers, follow these steps: 1. Pre-boarding: Send welcome materials, set up their workspace, and provide access to necessary tools. 2. Structured Training: Develop a comprehensive training program covering company culture, product, processes, and team dynamics. 3. Mentorship: Pair new PMs with experienced mentors for guidance and support. 4. Clear Goals: Set clear expectations and performance metrics to measure progress. 5. Feedback and Evaluation: Provide regular feedback and evaluations to help them grow. 6. Support: Offer ongoing support and resources for their development. 7. Integration: Facilitate integration into the team and company culture.

When in a management role (not an independent contributor - IC), always remember that now your product is your product team. I always loved the following quote by Bill Campbell, who mentored visionaries such as Steve Jobs, Larry Page, and Eric Schmidt: "Leadership is about recognizing that there’s a greatness in everyone, and your job is to create an environment where that greatness can emerge."