Three Traits of a Good Product Manager

Excited to discuss the essential traits that distinguish outstanding product managers! ?? In my conversations about leading product teams, the recurring question of "how to identify top talent" always surfaces. Whether you're shaping your initial product team, recruiting your next star player, or assessing your inherited team's synergy, my experience has revealed three pivotal personality traits that set exceptional product managers apart. While skills like discovery, delivery, and influence can be cultivated, true success hinges on a foundation built upon these unique qualities:

1. Intelligent: A successful product manager navigates seamlessly between strategic and tactical thinking. Beyond this, the ability to swiftly transition between these modes is crucial. Identifying substantial, often concealed, problems or trends and understanding their place in the broader customer narrative is a skill honed by top-notch product managers. They excel at breaking down significant issues into actionable steps, ensuring a tangible resolution.

2. Empathetically Articulate: Strategic and tactical prowess is only impactful if a product manager can convey solutions persuasively, inspiring others to understand and take action. Effectively communicating the intricacies of an issue, along with its solution and benefits, is a hallmark of a great product manager. They adapt their communication style to resonate with diverse audiences, from executives to developers. Leading by influence, they orchestrate collaboration across teams, relying on persuasion in the absence of direct control.

3. Insanely Curious: The most vital trait in a product manager, in my view, is an insatiable curiosity. I describe this as a "DNA-level hatred of the status quo," this trait propels a product manager to uncover why things fall short of their potential. Identifying genuine problems requires the ability to recognize when the current state isn't optimal. The role demands tenacity, as people often accept the status quo, and effecting change requires a relentless pursuit of improvement. Insane curiosity is the driving force behind overcoming challenges, as product managers delve into understanding not just what needs fixing but also how to inspire behavioral shifts.

Personally, I've made exceptions for candidates displaying intense competitiveness, integrating them into teams driven by insane curiosity. The competitive spirit to avoid being "the least curious person" yields outcomes akin to those driven by curiosity, fostering a dynamic and innovative team culture.

Let's keep the conversation going! What traits do you believe define exceptional product managers? ?? #ProductManagement #Leadership #CuriosityDrivenSuccess