Becoming A Calm and Collected Product Manager
The Story Behind Kilas Balik 2021
lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub…
36 hours before the launch of Tokopedia Wrapped — Kilas Balik 2021, my heart was pounding uncontrollably, not knowing what the next 36 hours would hold. As a team, we had put our heart and soul into the project for the last 2.5 months. We truly felt unstoppable at that point! But, precisely 12 hours before the release, we found a problem.
As the team lead, I had to reach out to everyone at midnight to hold the launch. The issue was that when showing users how much they saved by shopping on Tokopedia in 2021, the amount displayed was doubled. Immediately, we knew we had to postpone the launch and fix the problem first to ensure that we provide the most accurate information and best experience to all our users. Luckily, our team solved the issue within 24 hours and launched Kilas Balik Tokopedia 2021 a day later with phenomenal results. What I mean by “phenomenal” is that we hit our target within only 5 days. Everyone was so thrilled!
If I think back, having the opportunity to lead such a massive project independently within 3 months of joining Tokopedia might sound like a foolish decision to some. However, my leader trusted and had confidence in me, and I had an inevitable choice of not letting the project sink.
Overall, it was indeed a pleasure to work with a team consisting of brilliant individuals. However, as someone who is still exploring the ocean, things were not silky smooth. Even though the experience shaped my thinking and helped me become a better Product Manager, the hurdles that came with the challenge were like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Allow me to tell you 5 things that will help you have a bulletproof mentality as you bring your project to fruition.
1. List, list, and list: Create a detailed checklist and add items as you advance through the project. It can be a form of a to-do list, a checklist, a list of people who need to be on standby, or even a combination of it all. It sounds like a tedious task but once you start, I promise you’ll be able to complete it in no time. You can also ask your teammates to help you so that you don’t miss out on anything crucial.
While working on Kilas Balik Tokopedia 2021, my lists were my support system and I’m glad that I could always refer back to them every single day. Whether your list is digital or written in a notebook, make sure that they are clear, detailed, and easily accessible. Trust me, nothing compares to that sensation of crossing out each task until they have all been completed!
2. Over-communicating? Yes! Keeping 90 people on the same page was truly not the easiest task to do. Your priorities might not be the same as others even though you’ve conveyed what needs to be done. Overcommunication is truly the best lifehack a Product Manager can depend on.
Lack of contact can cause delay or even failure in a project. Hence, it’s always good to go above and beyond in communicating with your colleagues, as long as you stay within your scope of work and avoid micromanaging.
3. Keep a contingency plan on hand: As a Product Manager, you always need to be steps ahead and well-prepared for any and every kind of situation. Having a backup plan is a must to prevent potential problems or chaos from happening.
Even if you think your project is bullet-proof, always remember that even the most well-thought-out project could end up failing. If you face a problem and don’t have a backup, you’ll waste time discussing your next move and that’s not what you want. Always keep a contingency plan on hand!
4. There’s no such thing as too much testing: ‘Too much of anything is bad’ is never the case for testing a new feature. The more you test, the more likely that you can smoothly deliver the intended experience. Better yet, ask your peers to test as well and ensure everyone has access to all testing-related documentation for efficiency.
5. Focus, plan, and prioritize: Always keep your project close to your heart to ensure you’re ready at all times, especially when things go sideways. Amidst all the chaos involved when managing your projects, you might miss out on the important things. Hence, planning, prioritizing, and balancing your time will certainly cool your nerves and ensure your project is a success.
At first, when I was working on Kilas Balik Tokopedia 2021, I struggled a lot with focusing. With the support of my team and my lead, I was able to give my fullest attention to the project. I learned that when you have too much going on, taking a step back, prioritizing your deliverables, and reflecting on what’s important for the consumers really does help.
Working on Kilas Balik Tokopedia 2021 was truly a rollercoaster ride and every bit of it was worth it. With the mistakes, challenges, and eventual success, I wouldn’t trade this experience with anything else. To my fellow Product Managers, give these tips a try to keep your heart rate at bay when launching a new product to the public!
