5 Things I’ve learnt as a Product Manager

Product management is a challenging and rewarding career path that requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. However, getting into product management can be a daunting task, especially if you’re new to the field.

In this blog post, I will share some valuable insights and lessons that I’ve learnt as a product manager.

Communication is Key 💬

Product management is all about communication. It is important to be able to clearly communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, including developers, designers, executives, customers, and team members. Communication skills are essential to understanding the needs of your team and your customers, as well as conveying your ideas effectively.

Data is Your Best Friend 📈

Data is a vital part of product management. You need to be able to analyze data to make informed decisions about your product. It’s important to be able to understand what data to collect, how to analyze it, and how to use it to make informed decisions.

Efficient use of data helps you to understand the user needs and demands. You can therefore make great improvements to your product.

The Importance of Prioritization 📝

One of the biggest challenges in product management is prioritization. You need to be able to prioritize features, bugs, and issues based on their impact and urgency. It’s important to have a clear understanding of what is most important to your customers and your business, so you can focus on delivering value.

Especially in startups, the priorities change more quickly. As a product manager, it is critical to understand the business value to ensure sustainable product success.

It’s Okay to Say “No” 👩‍💻

As a product manager, you will be faced with a lot of requests and demands. It’s important to remember that you can’t say “yes” to everything. Saying “no” is an essential skill in product management. You need to be able to prioritize and make tough decisions, even if it means saying “no” to stakeholders.

This might bring some resistance among your teammates and stakeholders. Clear the clutter by prioritizing the product goals. Put your viewpoints in a logical way and explain the challenges.

It’s a Continuous Learning Process

Product management is a constantly evolving field, and there is always something new to learn. It’s important to stay up-to-date on industry trends, best practices, and new technologies. Product management requires a growth mindset and a willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges.

Product management is an exciting and dynamic career path that requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. By keeping these insights in mind, you’ll be better prepared for the challenges and rewards of the field. Remember to communicate effectively, use data efficiently, prioritize wisely, be willing to say “no,” and continue to learn and grow.

I hope you resonated with most of the points mentioned in the article, if you have already worked in product management for sometime.