How can a product manager avoid getting stuck on the details?
Product Management
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As a product manager, it’s easy to get lost in the little things as you build and launch a product. But if you want to be successful, you need to be able to step back and see the big picture. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting bogged down in the details.
1. Define the problem: While this may feel like an intuitive first step, product managers should always have a clear sense of the problem that their product is trying to solve. What are the user’s needs, and how will the product address them? Once you have a clear understanding of the problem, you can then start to focus on the solution.
“It is important to remember what your ultimate goal is as a product manager: delivering a successful product. It can be easy to get caught up in day-to-day details and lose sight of the big picture, but if you want to succeed in this role, you need to keep your eye on the prize at all times. By remembering what your goal is, you will be able to make decisions that are in line with that goal—even if they are tough decisions.”
— Martins Udotai is a senior product manager at Advon Commerce. He has over 3 years of product management experience.
2. Simplify the solution: The simpler the solution, the easier it will be to implement and the less likely you are to complicate the product development process. Consider how you can make the product as easy to develop and use as possible, and work with a diverse set of teams to find that solution.?
3. Delegate, and delegate often: As the product manager, you cannot do everything yourself.?Leadership often means delegating tasks to other members on your team and others, so make sure that you are familiar with every team that you are working with. By assigning tasks, you’ll be able to keep everyone on track and stay dedicated to building out the bigger picture. This also means letting go of micro-management tendencies and offering the reins to others that you trust.
“Technology can do a lot of things, but tracking productivity seems subjective. The appearance of productivity is different than productivity itself. Assessing outcomes rather than the process seems like a much more effective strategy. In a corporate setting, this seems like a micro-managing tactic rather than a productivity booster.”
—?Kelvin Beachum Jr. is an NFL athlete for the Arizona Cardinals. He is also a partner at global nonprofit World Vision and an entrepreneur in residence at investment firm Next Play Capital.
4. Take a step back: Conduct regular check-ins to assess the progress of your project. Does the timeline need to be adjusted? Are there any areas where the product needs to be improved that weren’t a part of the original plan? By taking a step back, you can have a better sense of the trajectory of your product’s lifespan, and whether you’ll need to adjust your original plans to reach your final objective.?
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How this article was made: An AI generated an initial answer to a question. The response was then fact checked, corrected, and amended by editor Felicia Hou . Any errors or additions? Please let us know in the comments.