What do you do if your boss is out of touch with your product marketing projects and progress?

I've always thought of my bosses as partners, not overlords. It is as much your responsibility to build that partnership as it theirs. You can't over estimate the importance of consistent, clear, and meaningful communication. The effort you put into that skill will pay off exponentially. Marketing has at least 15+ core disciplines, product marketing is just one of them. No one person is an expert in each of them equally. Make it your first priority to bring your boss along, build trust, and ensure that you are aligned on goals. I have never known any leader who did not want success for the company, their teams, and themselves. That only happens when everyone is clear on what needs to be done to achieve that!

En toda relacion laboral los niveles de comunicacion son esenciales para estar alineados como equipo y entre todos llevar a cabo los proyectos, darle seguimiento a los avances y aplicar los correctivos cuando las cosas no estan bien, el liderazgo es importante que ocupe un papel protagonico y de soporte a la gestion de todos los miembros del equipo, todos tenemos problemas personales, pero ellos no pueden interferir en la ejecucion de la gestion profesional...

If your boss is out of touch with your product marketing projects and progress: 1. Schedule regular updates and progress reports. 2. Provide clear, concise, and visual summaries. 3. Offer solutions and recommendations for feedback. 4. Ask questions to ensure understanding and alignment. 5. Invite them to team meetings or key project milestones. 6. Be proactive and transparent in communication. 7. Offer training or resources to help them understand industry trends. 8. Focus on impact and results to demonstrate value. 9. Seek clarification on expectations and goals. 10. Consider an "executive summary" to keep them informed. Remember, keeping your boss informed and engaged is crucial for success.

Consider your manager's perspective and constraints. Understanding their workload, priorities, and communication preferences can provide insights into why they may be out of touch. This empathy-driven approach fosters constructive dialogue and facilitates effective strategies to bridge the gap in communication and alignment.

Schedule a meeting to update your boss on project status, goals, and achievements. Prepare a clear report with data and visuals to demonstrate progress and impact on company objectives. Offer solutions to address concerns and request regular check-ins to ensure they stay informed. Adapt your communication style to suit their preferences. If the issue persists, consider involving a supervisor or colleague for guidance and support. Focus on aligning your work with company goals and showcase your value. Approach the conversation constructively to get your boss back on track with your product marketing projects and progress.

To align on objectives with a boss who's out of touch with your product marketing projects, initiate regular, structured updates focusing on key metrics and progress towards shared goals. Draft a clear, concise document or dashboard that outlines objectives, strategies, milestones, and the current status of each project. Highlight how these efforts contribute to broader company objectives. Schedule brief, focused meetings to discuss this dashboard, ensuring you both agree on priorities and outcomes. This approach fosters transparency, promotes mutual understanding, and ensures alignment on the direction and expectations for your marketing initiatives.

I've never had an issue with any PMM leaders, very often they understand how dynamic and challenging the role can be. My advice is to have a candid conversation with your line manager to understand where does the frustration comes from, usually somewhere along those 5 lines: 1) Visibility & Communication of Progress 2) Task Prioritisation 3) Workload Management 4) Collaboration with other teams 5) Quality of work PMMs are always trying to balance out becoming tactical asset creators with keeping all teams happy whilst still delivering strategic value to the business. Success of PMM teams is a shared responsibility between CEO, Head of PMM, Sales, Product, Partner & Marketing teams!!

I always believe that we need to take control of our career path. Create career development plans, set up regular meetings, ask for honest feedback, and communicate very clearly your goal and what you need help with. You are the best advocate of yourself.

Establishing a regular communication rhythm with your boss involves setting up structured, recurring meetings, such as weekly or bi-weekly check-ins, to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps. Utilize concise, clear email updates or brief reports for interim updates, focusing on key achievements, metrics, and any immediate concerns. Opt for clarity and brevity, highlighting actionable insights and decisions required. Encourage an open dialogue by asking for feedback and insights, ensuring both parties are actively engaged and informed. This consistent communication fosters a transparent and productive working relationship.

The best approach is to schedule one-on-one meetings once per two-week sprint to review progress, discuss any roadblocks, and provide updates on the status of the project. For projects that are fast-paced or require more frequent communication, it may be necessary to have weekly meetings to ensure alignment and keep your boss informed. By maintaining open and consistent communication, you can help keep your boss in the loop and ensure they are not out of touch with your projects.

First thing is always create a thorough monthly content strategies calendar and be one week ahead on deliverables like videos, images or even an email campaign template etc., share this with your boss in a closed group of marketing team. So, this will reduce last minute changes and helps them understand what all things are been taken care of, ask for suggestions from C-Suite perspective. Daily update this with your boss, even if he's away for a week don't worry you'll always be on-time. I use this strategy so there'll be no fuss or drama between you and your boss. Hope you like this and try, trust me, it made a huge difference for me!

As a "boss," I always liked the "PACI" framework for weekly updates (via email, Slack, etc.). P = Priorities: what's the most important things you're working on this week? A = Accomplishments: what happened last week that I should know about? C = Challenges: where are you stuck such that you need help from me? I = Information: what random stuff do I need to know (upcoming vacation, etc.). If you have more than 3-4 short bullets in each section and it takes me more than 3 minutes to read your PACI, you're doing it wrong and yourself an injustice.

I think it's essential to bridge this gap proactively to ensure alignment and support for your initiatives. Soliciting feedback is a key strategy in this context, offering a dual benefit: it provides valuable insights that can refine and improve your projects and keeps your boss informed and engaged. By actively seeking feedback and engaging your boss in your product marketing projects and progress, you can ensure they are informed, involved, and supportive of your efforts.

To effectively solicit feedback, communicate clearly that input is valued and critical for improvement. Introduce regular feedback sessions, framing them as opportunities for growth rather than critiques. Utilize specific, structured questions to guide feedback, focusing on areas of improvement, successes, and strategic direction. Offer multiple channels for feedback, such as one-on-one meetings, anonymous surveys, or digital platforms, to accommodate different preferences. Actively listen, acknowledge all input, and follow up with actions or changes based on the feedback received, demonstrating its impact and your responsiveness.

Managing expectations involves clear, upfront communication about project scopes, timelines, and potential challenges. Begin by setting realistic goals with your boss, providing detailed plans and rationales. Regularly update them on progress, highlighting any deviations from the original plan and the reasons behind them. When obstacles arise, present solutions or alternative strategies to mitigate impact. Encourage an open dialogue to adjust expectations as projects evolve, ensuring alignment. By being proactive and transparent, you can foster trust and maintain a positive, collaborative working relationship.

Assess the Situation: First, take a step back and assess whether your boss is genuinely out of touch or if there's a communication gap or misunderstanding. Try to understand their perspective and expectations. Document Progress Schedule Regular Updates Provide Context Seek Feedback Clarify Expectations Demonstrate Impact Stay Professional Seek Support if Needed: If despite your efforts, the situation doesn't improve or becomes a significant roadblock, consider seeking support from your HR department or a mentor within the company. They may provide guidance or facilitate a constructive conversation between you and your boss.