3 core concepts for Product people to master.
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3 core concepts for Product people to master.
Taruna Manchada dropped a gem that still has relevance years later. Let's dig into it.
The post, titled “PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SKILLS NO ONE TALKS ABOUT ;)” by Taruna Manchada, was originally dated January 2019 and posted on Medium.
The background is a little blinding at first, but once your eyes adjust and you scroll through, you find some incredibly interesting and realistic take on this product management life.
Here are my top 3 favorite lessons summarized from the post:
Lesson #1: Product Managers can’t be sad.
Product Managers (PMs) must maintain a positive and enthusiastic demeanor as they interact with stakeholders, each with varying temperaments, needs, and emotional states.
A typical day for a PM is filled with meetings, conversations, alignments, and the sharing of ideas. Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial to successfully navigating conflicting ideas and ensuring productive collaborations.
Why I like this lesson:
No one likes to work around the complainer. Even if you’re not 100% bubbly all the time, having a positive demeanor and building up those around you is key, and I think this lesson is a great reminder of this.
Lesson #3: Looking for instant gratification? Maybe look for another job.
Product Management isn’t about instant gratifications; it’s a continuous journey of improvements and iterations, demanding immense patience. A product is not a single sale deal or a finished task; it evolves constantly, requiring consistent learning, adapting, and decision-making.
Why I like this lesson:
It’s great to remember that product management might not fit you best if immediate rewards are your driving force. Sure, A/B testing with positive results will give you some dopamine hits, but building products that people love is a long game.
Lesson #4: Learn to seek the truth, not validation
PMs often form attachments to their solutions and hypotheses, leading to a tendency to seek validation rather than the truth. This can blindside them to potential flaws and improvements in their product.
It's essential to seek diverse perspectives and feedback and then use sound judgment to sift through these insights. The goal is to uncover the truth and improve the product, not to validate preconceived notions.
Why I like this lesson:
I think it’s important just to let go of the things that are failing at some point. Not everything you build, no matter how hard you try to will it into success, will be a home run.
The 3 Core Concepts for Product People to Master (according to Product Party)
Stay Positive and Open-minded: Keep a happy and clear mind, even when things get tough. Be willing to listen to other people’s ideas and suggestions and be open to changing your plans to make them work better. Understanding and respecting everyone’s different views is important to do a good job.
Keep Making Things Better: Understand that there’s always room to improve, whether it’s a project, game, or app. Keep thinking of ways to make what you’re working on the best possible and meet the needs of the people using it.
Be Responsible and Honest: Take charge of your projects, ensuring everyone involved works well together and does their part. Always be honest about how things are progressing, and complete what you started, fixing any problems that might come up along the way.
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