Navigating the lulls

Hello everyone,

I was thinking about what it would mean when we get into a lull or have downtime; in my consulting days, the term was “on the beach”.

It has happened to me a few times in my career, and I sometimes point to the lack of management on my part of the inability to take advantage of those situations that may have hindered some of my career development.

As product managers, we are often measured by the features we ship and the products we launch. (This is a topic altogether, but allow me to stay on point here.) What happens when the projects slow down or a strategic pivot leaves us without a clear path forward? These quieter periods can challenge our sense of purpose and organizational visibility. However, they also offer unique opportunities for growth and development.

This week, I would like to share how we can continue to develop our skills and maintain our strategic importance to our organizations, even when not directly driving new products to market.

Understanding the Impact of Downtimes

Product management downtime can occur for various reasons, such as market shifts, economic downturns, company restructuring, or even after the completion of significant projects. These periods can induce anxiety, as the usual metrics for success are not as visible. Yet, they are also times ripe for reflection and strategic planning.

For instance, consider the case of a PM at a mid-sized tech company who found themselves in a holding pattern when their company was acquired. Instead of developing new products, the focus shifted to integrating with the larger acquiring entity. This PM struggled to find relevance until they shifted their focus from product output to process integration.

Strategic Growth Without Direct Outputs

Skill Enhancement: Slow times are perfect for learning. For example, when another company I know had a product launch delayed due to regulatory approvals, the product team used the time to get trained in Agile methodologies and advanced analytics. By the time the launch resumed, the team was more efficient and brought new data-driven insights to the strategy, significantly impacting the product’s success post-launch. There are many avenues for free or paid courses/programmes that can help you, such as Youtube, Coursera, etc.

Side Projects and Experimentation: Sometimes, our projects during downtimes might not look like our typical work but can lead to substantial long-term benefits. I know someone who proposed and led an initiative to refine the user onboarding experience during a slow quarter at their company. Though not a new feature or product, this project led to a 40% improvement in user retention, a crucial metric for the company’s next funding round. However, this also depends on whether your organisation or company is open to such side projects.

Building and Showcasing Soft Skills

Leadership and Influence: During these slow periods, there is often more time to mentor new hires or team members looking to upskill. Fostering talent and helping others grow enhances your leadership capabilities and strengthens team loyalty and morale.

“Shameless plug: If interested in mentoring or to have a chat about Product and exchange ideas please check out my ADPList profile at https://adplist.org/mentors/rashdan-harith”

Communication Mastery: Effective communication becomes crucial when the path isn’t clear. Mastering the art of communication can mean the difference between a team that feels lost and one that stays motivated and focused. Regular updates, clear articulation of visions, and transparent sharing of challenges and small wins keep everyone aligned and engaged.

Maintaining Visibility in the Organization

Documenting and Sharing Learnings: Even if you’re not shipping products, demonstrating what you and your team are learning can provide immense value to the organization. For instance, blogging internally about the lessons from a failed pilot or insights from market research can elevate your profile as a thought leader within your company.

Networking Internally: Use the downtime to build relationships with other departments. This cross-pollination not only helps with future projects but can also lead to new opportunities. A PM friend once shared how joining the weekly sales team calls during a project hiatus helped her understand customer pain points so well that she could propose a new feature set that became the cornerstone of the following product phase.

Preparing for the Job Market

Beyond Features and Products: When preparing for a job search, it’s crucial to articulate the breadth of your experience. A former colleague successfully transitioned to a senior role at another company by focusing on his experience in team building, process optimization, and strategic redirection during previous downtimes rather than just the products launched.

Crafting Your Narrative: Craft a compelling story around your experiences, highlighting your ability to adapt and drive change, even without direct product outputs. For example, describe a scenario where your strategic input or a process you devised significantly improved project outcomes or efficiency.

Conclusion:

Periods of downtime are not just gaps in our resume but are opportunities for growth, reflection, and preparation for the next big challenge. Our ability to navigate these periods creatively and proactively can significantly influence our careers and personal development.

Call to Action:

Reflect on your own experiences during downtimes. What are areas you could have better utilized those periods? What strategies will you adopt next time? Think about this and share some ideas in the comments.

Let’s embrace these quiet times as much as we celebrate our busiest phases.

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