The 3 Frustrations of a Product Manager

What They Rarely Tell You About Product Management

So, I heard you’re interested in Product Management.

I also heard that you had bought yourself a very good MacBook; you know the type you carry around proudly with stickers that introduce you even before you open your mouth!

“I mind the Product”

“10X PM”

“I Love Product Management” kinda stickers.

I also heard you have taken your Scrum and Agile Certification Exams. Done some Product Management Certifications too.

Googled and read everything about you could find on Product Management; 99.99999999… % of which talk about the glamour, prestige, and money associated with being a PM. Well, this particular post is for that straight-to-the-point, jargon-free gut-wrenching frustrations they rarely tell you about!

Still interested in being a PM?

Coooooool, let’s go!

1.      CEO of the Product

In theory, you’re the CEO of the product. In reality, you are nothing!   

Are you the CEO of the company? If no, stop deceiving yourself.

As a PM, you are ultimately answerable to the CEO of the company and on many occasions through multiple reporting layers. There is only one CEO in a company and if that is not you, forget about being the “CEO of the Product”

You are just another easily replaceable pawn in the game!

2.      Responsibility Without Authority

Nothing can be more frustrating than having something to do without the authority to do it! The feeling of powerlessness is second to none.

You want to kill this unprofitable product and direct the resources elsewhere? Get the CEO’s approval (please, see point 1 above for clarifications)

Want to sign up that vendor immediately and increase sales? Get clearance from Legal.

Want to implement the feature this or that way? Speak with Compliance.

You prefer to engage users online in a friendly, youthful tone but the Brand Team insists on saying “Dear Esteemed Customer”?

Well, all I can say is “good luck”

3.      What Exactly Do Product Managers Do?

The simple answer to the question above is everything or nothing; depending on whom you ask.

If you ask a PM, the answer will be everything- from user research, ideation to product launch and post-launch support, etc.

If you ask Compliance, well…

And that is the problem!

You are not valued if you do nothing. Neither are you appreciated if you do everything.

There is a problem with doing everything. You will be perceived as a duck.

A duck.

That animal that can swim but not as a good swimmer as a fish.

Can fly but not as good as a bird.

Can walk but not as majestically as a peacock.  

So, as a PM, you may find yourself struggling to convince people of what you do and why your job matters.

Closing…

At the end of the day, the role of Product Management is not for the faint-hearted, but it is a very fun one. You get to work on different areas of the business.

You learn to get people to work with and for you through influence instead of authority.

Still interested in being a PM?

Good luck!

Practicing PMs feel free to share your frustrations in the comment box.

Have any Product Management and Digital Transformation Questions? Feel free to hit me up.

I wish you a very great 2021.