Enhancing Your Soft Skills and Career as a Product Manager with Chat GPT

I remember clearly the autumn evening when I discovered Chat GPT-4. Before that, my interactions with neural networks were sporadic and mostly for entertainment. But that thing had VALUE.

I started exploring the topic, testing, checking, and analyzing a lot. Neural networks captivated me, and at some point, I realized they had influenced my thinking. A lot.

Here’s how Chat GPT can enhance your soft skills and help grow your career as a product manager.

1. Garbage In – Garbage Out: The Importance of Clear Communication.

This principle usually applies to training a neural network: the quality of output depends on the quality of input.

The same applies to setting tasks. I remember one project where I gave vague instructions and ended up with a mess. The clearer and more precise you are in defining a task, the better and more relevant the results will be. To get valuable output from Chat GPT, provide meaningful context. If you’re vague or sloppy, don’t blame the neural network for poor results.

2. When Things Seem Too Good, Be Skeptical.

There have been moments when I couldn’t get a text right, and suddenly, Chat GPT produced an amazing, polished article. However, it turned out to be completely fabricated. The most seamless outputs can often be hallucinations. The same goes for product management: if a planned solution seems too perfect and easy, you are probably missing a thing. Something that might lead to a failure. Trust but verify.

3. The Value of Asking Questions.

I learned to ask questions frequently, even seemingly stupid ones. It’s the simplest way to detect errors or hallucinations. Questions like “Did you fabricate any facts in this text?” or “Does this result meet the criteria?” are the simplest way to figure out if the facts Chat GPT provides to you are imaginary.

This habit of questioning improves your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, crucial for product management.

4. Filling in the Gaps: Dealing with Unknowns.

Just like Chat GPT fills data gaps with fabrications, people do the same when they don’t know something. Pressuring someone who lacks information is futile. Similarly, if Chat GPT generates irrelevant responses time over time, refine your queries or provide additional data.

This teaches you to handle incomplete information and adapt your approach—an essential skill for managing projects and teams.

5. Structuring Tasks: A Key Management Skill.

Using Chat GPT effectively involves breaking down tasks into clear structures. Imagine having a highly knowledgeable but inexperienced team member. Start with a clear structure for each query. This habit of organizing thoughts and tasks is vital for managing complex projects and leading teams.

One of key skills of a product manager. Invaluable.

6. Feed Instructions in Bite-Sized Pieces.

No matter how well you structure your task, delivering it to Chat GPT in chunks is essential. Large instructions can overwhelm it, leading to loss of context or incomplete execution.

Similarly, in project management, break down tasks into manageable parts to ensure clarity and completeness. During a major product launch, I divide the project into smaller phases, which helped keep everything on track and manageable.

7. Visualize the Desired Outcome.

Knowing the end goal and visualizing the desired outcome differentiates a professional from an amateur. If you know what the final result should look like, Chat GPT can help you get there quickly. This clarity in vision is crucial for effective product management and achieving project goals.

8. Learn the Terminology.

Knowing the names of frameworks, methods, and specific terms can save time and improve the quality of results. Instead of explaining in detail, ask Chat GPT to use a specific framework, like “analyze the business model using Osterwalder’s framework.” This practice not only saves time but also ensures higher quality outcomes. When I first used the term "Osterwalder's Canvas," the efficiency and quality of our strategy session improved significantly.

9. Persistence Pays Off.

Sometimes, Chat GPT might have off days, similar to any other tool or team member. There might be high demand, updates, or glitches. Don’t give up easily. Adjust your approach, refine your queries, and try again. This persistence is a valuable trait in overcoming challenges and achieving success.

10. Adapt Your Communication Style.

Explaining tasks to Chat GPT requires understanding how it interprets your queries. Each neural network has its style, and learning to communicate effectively with it enhances your overall communication skills. This adaptability is crucial for managing diverse teams and stakeholders.

As an introvert, I have challenges adapting my communication on the go, but Chat GPT has trained me to instantly find "what they can hear in my words"

11. Avoid Last-Minute Rush.

Neural networks, while very fast, can be extremely unpredictable. They glitch, they malfunction, they just don't work properly when you need them to.

Last-minute tasks can lead to suboptimal results. Allow ample time for iterations and refinements. This practice reduces stress and ensures better outcomes, crucial for successful project management. I learned this the hard way with Chat GPT when I tried to transform the speech from the audio into the presentation script one night before the webinar recording. I had to do it manually, despite the night before the sample piece worked fine. It was not a pleasant experience, but doing things long BEFORE the deadline is a good habit.

Using Chat GPT not only enhances your technical skills but also significantly improves your soft skills, making you a more effective and adaptable product manager.