Product management is a creative job in the deepest sense: We create products. But the level at which we need to do so changes dramatically over the course of a product person’s career, and the transition is not always easy. Here are three levels — each relevant to a different stage in your career and your product. Where are you now? — I don’t know how, but my daughters turned out to be really good with creative stuff. I’m talking about the paint and paper stuff, specifically. Although I’m pretty sure they are biologically mine, I am not very good nor do I love drawing, painting, sculpturing, etc. …

AI is everywhere, and it’s great. But AI isn’t always right. Aside from fixing the algorithms and bugs themselves, do you own the impact? Well, you should. Here’s how to do it. — I love AI. I’m always in awe seeing the things that it can do, and having led AI products for many years I know how powerful it is. On the other hand, I also know its limitations and how hard it is to get it right. As a product leader…

Hiring a product leader is never easy. You are looking for a partner to join your team and take a significant leadership role. In most cases, you have never been in this position yourself before, so interviewing could be a challenge. Here are a few things to consider when you seek your next product leader. — When I started Infinify five years ago, I announced that I am offering product consulting services. It was deliberately vague, partly because that’s all I could say on day one. …

Finding your next job as a product leader is not necessarily easy. This is especially true if you are interviewing as a product leader for the first time, even if you had done the job before. Here are a few things that if you pay attention to would make it much easier for you to get your dream job. — With so many people looking for a job these days, there is a vibrant discussion on LinkedIn and other professional groups about feedback to a rejected candidate. Every now and then someone writes about how they don’t just say no, they always explain why and also give feedback on what…

Running a successful product organization is hard. There are so many challenges, and everyone’s day-to-day is super hectic. It’s no wonder there are many tools that try to resolve this. But tools alone won’t fix anything and can do the opposite. Here’s why. — As a proud member of the startup nation, startups are all around me. I see them everywhere, and apparently, they see me too. Every now and then, early-stage founders approach me to hear about their product idea and give them feedback. …

A good product strategy connects multiple dots together and creates an end-to-end story that makes sense. When done right, there is a moment when you know all pieces are in place. But what do you need to do to get there? Here are the steps to follow. — A few weeks ago, while on my regular kids-driver duty (that is, driving my daughters to and from their afternoon activities), we found ourselves stuck in traffic. It happens. We used the time to chat when something caught my eye.

Influence without authority has always been the foundation of product management. As product leaders, this is even more important. To succeed, we must influence areas that are way beyond our control, and that’s a completely different ball game. Here are the things you must master in order to succeed. — When I was young I was a professional swimmer. I was at the pool for two hours every day, 6 times a week, and often attended competitions on the weekends. I worked hard and ranked #15 in Israel for my age group. I was very proud of this achievement but…

Working well with stakeholders is crucial for your success. We often feel that they keep coming with requests that we have to deal with, which might lead to negative dynamics. Since it’s such an important topic, here are some guidelines to follow to make sure you are doing well. — When we moved to our new apartment a few years ago, we decided to have real plants outside. We have a large balcony and what I call “our garden” is actually a stripe of plants running along its rails. I absolutely love it. Israel has nice weather most of the…

One of the hardest things to do as a product leader or entrepreneur is to think about what you are already doing with a fresh eye. You are too immersed in what you have now to be able to see anything else. But often this is key to making the right decisions and identifying risks before they materialize. Here are two ways to do so. — My senior year at high school was the best. Most of it didn’t include high school at all, since I completed most of my university requirements in the 11th grade. …