Product Teacher

While PMs are responsible for the success or failure of their product, we also need to take care of our mental and physical health. If we’re not in good shape, we won’t be able to deliver outsized positive impact for our customers and for our company. Therefore, it’s crucial for us to set clear work boundaries as product managers, so that we can work sustainably over the long run. In this guide, I discuss why it's so important for us to set work boundaries for ourselves, and I dive into the two kinds of boundaries that we should establish. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gFr8PqKa

“Clement, how did you become a product manager?” You might expect this: I tell you about how I always wanted to be a PM, then I share a master plan. Spoiler: that’s not how my story turned out. My story is a bit different, as I never planned to become a product manager. When I was a college student, I didn't even know that product management existed! To help you navigate towards a career in product, here are seven principles I’ve used to successfully break into product management. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gbtuNKg2

While PMs are responsible for the success or failure of their product, we also need to take care of our mental and physical health. If we’re not in good shape, we won’t be able to deliver outsized positive impact for our customers and for our company. Therefore, it’s crucial for us to set clear work boundaries as product managers, so that we can work sustainably over the long run. In this guide, I discuss why it's so important for us to set work boundaries for ourselves, and I dive into the two kinds of boundaries that we should establish. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gFr8PqKa

The best product management organizations leverage the concept of “dual career tracks” to grow their product managers. The first track is focused on people management: that is, these product professionals are responsible for managing other product managers. The second track is focused on execution: that is, these product professionals are responsible for day-to-day product work. To help provide more clarity around the product management dual career tracks, I’ve written this guide as an overview of the career progression that product managers can expect. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gd_hQmta

I’ve noticed that many early-career PMs are excited to pivot into AI, and I applaud this enthusiasm! But, I want to be clear: if you’re a product manager with strong skills but no direct experience in AI, the path to transitioning into AI product management requires quite a bit of elbow grease. To help make this hard work a little bit easier, I’ve written this guide to help you navigate that transition, from understanding AI fundamentals to positioning yourself as a compelling AI PM candidate. I hope this essay provides helpful first steps to tackle. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gE58knjU

Meetings are an integral part of a product manager's responsibilities. While meetings often feel like an operational burden that distracts us from "real work," we can transform meetings into engines of productivity and catalysts for innovation if we approach them thoughtfully. In this essay, I've identified best practices that enhance meeting effectiveness. By optimizing the before, during, and after phases of each meeting, you drive clarity, accountability, and momentum within your teams. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gq_igww2

PMs work cross-functionally to prioritize what to build, to define product strategy, and to lead initiatives from ideation through execution. But with this unique position comes a challenging dilemma. How can we drive the most value for customers and the business, while simultaneously being perceived as fair, impartial, and empathetic by our stakeholders? Inevitably, some stakeholders will be frustrated when product decisions don't benefit them. Worse, some stakeholders may feel like they are actively & negatively impacted by our choices. It's impossible to keep everyone happy all the time. But, it is possible to be thoughtful in how we position ourselves and how we communicate, to maintain our stakeholders' trust even when we make decisions that don't favor them. In this essay, we dive deep into why perceptions of favoritism matter, and the negative impacts caused by perceived favoritism. Then, we share a set of techniques, mindsets, and approaches that empower product managers to make principled product decisions while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gj2xTfa6

Many product managers are eager to transition into climate tech roles but may feel uncertain about how to make the shift. The good news: breaking into climate tech as a PM is more achievable than you might think! In fact, you don't necessarily need certifications or extensive domain knowledge to get started. In this essay, we'll explore actionable strategies and techniques for successfully pivoting into a climate tech PM role. I hope this guide helps you better understand how to navigate the climate tech industry. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gFVaekGg

Many product managers feel pressured to adopt a larger-than-life persona. Social media often portrays the ideal PM as a charismatic extrovert: a bold visionary who evangelizes their strategy with grand statements. However, my experience coaching product managers across companies of all sizes and industries has shown me that many highly-effective product people take a very different approach. Rather than conforming to the cliché of the outspoken PM, these product leaders embody what I call "quiet leadership." This understated style prioritizes building trust, delivering results, and driving change through one-on-one interactions. Over time, it enables them to deftly expand their scope and influence while empowering their teams. In this essay, I'll walk you through what quiet leadership is, and why introverted product managers should not reject their introversion. I also break down why introverted product managers should instead embrace their introversion and lean heavily on it as a core leadership asset. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gua45yWk

As a B2B product manager, you'll find customer quarterly business reviews to be valuable for refining your product direction. You won't be leading these QBRs (as they're typically led by Customer Success Managers). But, by understanding how QBRs are run, you'll have more empathy for your customers and for your customer success team. In this guide, we’ll discuss what a customer quarterly business review is, why it matters for your company, and why it matters for your customers. Then, we’ll discuss how to maximize your benefit from customer quarterly business reviews as a product manager. I'd love to hear your reflections, thoughts, and personal best practices! https://lnkd.in/gp-S_B_Q