3 Skills The Best Product Managers Have
One of my product managers asked me today what we should be looking for in new PMs. I look for 3 things, in this order:
- Gets Shit Done: Execution is the backbone of a product manager. They must drive the team to deliver results, whether that is an offering, or a program, or a sales play. We can draw up all kinds of strategies and plans, but if we don't get things past the finish line, we have no revenue.
- Proactive: PMs are always listening, always looking for new opportunities, always figuring out the roadblocks. And the best product managers don't say "this needs to be solved, I wish someone would do it". They say, "this needs to be solved, and I am going to make sure someone solves it, even if it is me". Proactive product managers listen to their clients and to the market, and figure out what pain points we can address and then drive the team to build the right solutions.
- Super Smart: Engaging with the super smart technology teams we work with, whether internally or at clients, requires intelligence, curiosity and creativity in problem solving. The best PMs become domain experts in whichever domain they dive into, by reading, asking lots of questions, listening, and talking to engineering and clients.
Getting shit done is table stakes or the base for a good PM. On top of that, proactive PMs are the ones that really drive change. The ones that have all three qualities create amazing products and results.
Product Manager as the Quarterback
Most technology companies are matrixed organizations. I believe that the product manager is where the matrix meets (cue jokes about Neo from "The Matrix"). The product manager is the quarterback that must call the plays in the field and adapt to dynamic changes in the market. They must organize the players (engineering, sales, marketing, operations) to work as a team, even when things are changing and there seems to be chaos.
Navigating the large and complex matrix at large companies comes from years of experience in getting shit done, being proactive, and earning the trust of the team, due to your creativity and intelligence.
What do you look for in your PMs? I would love to hear about other PMs opinions; so please post what you look for and thrive to become as a PM.
UPDATE: Read my second product management article: "The Only Two Customers that Product Managers Have"
Products | Technology |? Innovation | Business | Investments
7 年From experience I think I will look for following in my PM. When He starts should set 30, 60, 90 days targets like a "Fund Manager". Listening is an extremely essential skill he must possess a lot like a "Good salesman", it can not be substituted by talking and it is not same as obeying. He is responsible directly for the success of the product which requires that he takes informed decisions which are in the best interest of the product. This requires tough decision making ability much like a "Plant Head". And I believe most of these can be assessed during interview process.
Making life better at work.
7 年Absolutely true. But I find in my interviews for a job, these are not the subjects that the interviewers are asking about - and when I introduce them, still no traction. Curiois if others are experiencing this too?
Experienced Healthcare Strategy | AI/ML | SaaS | Product Management Leader
7 年Thanks for sharing. I agree mature PM is like a Quarterback. I have always considered PM as heart of the system. Constantly pumping fresh blood or food to grow the product and maintain good pace
Strategy | Corporate Marketing | Product Marketing | Marketing Management | Director | Communication | Cybersecurity
7 年It'd be nice if there was a funnel or something where some of the most basic "stuff" could be done by others, leaving more time for the PM to do the other activities.