Be Curious, not judgemental : A lesson from Ted Lasso for all product managers
As a product manager, it’s easy to get caught up in the pressures of delivering results and meeting deadlines. But what if I told you that there’s a simple lesson from a TV show that could help you become a better product manager? Enter “Ted Lasso” — the Apple TV+ series that has captured the hearts of millions with its heartwarming story about an American football coach who moves to England to manage a soccer team.
One of the most iconic phrases from the show is “Be curious, not judgemental.” This line was actually coined by Walt Whitman (1819–1892, an American poet, essayist, and journalist), but it’s Ted Lasso who brings it to life in the context of leadership. At its core, the phrase means that instead of making assumptions about people and situations, we should approach them with an open mind and a desire to learn more.
Unfortunately, many product managers fall into the trap of being judgemental instead of curious. They assume that they already know what the market wants, or they dismiss feedback from customers because they don’t fit their preconceived notions. This approach can lead to costly mistakes, such as launching a product that nobody wants, or missing out on valuable opportunities because they didn’t take the time to ask the right questions. Or even getting trapped in optimizations and never launching a product.
For example, let’s say a product manager is working on a new app for a specific demographic, but they assume that their target audience only wants a certain set of features. They don’t take the time to do user research or talk to potential customers. Just because they feel they feel they also belong to same group of users, instead of curiosity they end up trusting their own emotions and intuitions. As a result, they end up launching a product that doesn’t resonate with anyone. Alternatively, a product manager might dismiss feedback from customers who are asking for a particular feature because they assume that it’s not important and never taking the effort to ask a simple “WHY?”. They might be missing out on a crucial opportunity to differentiate their product and delight their customers.
So how can product managers practice being curious?
As a product manager, practicing the skill of being curious can be incredibly valuable, but it’s not always easy to know where to start. One way to cultivate curiosity is to ask open-ended questions that encourage people to share their thoughts and ideas. They best ones are always the “Why” -starting questions. And it is highly needed they sound curious when asked not judgmental! Also include questions like “What challenges are you facing?” or “How do you think we could improve this product?” It’s also important to actively listen to the answers and follow up with more questions to dig deeper. The more curious you are the more your users are open to share their thoughts and answer your questions with honestly and freedom.
Another way to practice curiosity is to seek out new perspectives and ideas. This can include attending industry events, reading books and articles, and connecting with other product managers to learn from their experiences. It’s important to keep an open mind and be willing to challenge your own assumptions and biases.
In the end, the lesson from “Ted Lasso” is simple but powerful. By being curious instead of judgemental, product managers can create products that truly meet the needs of their customers and stand out in a crowded market. So the next time you’re facing a tough decision or a challenging project, remember to be curious, ask questions — you never know what you might learn.
