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Bad PMs have a lot of excuses. Here are some things you will never hear a great product managers say, a thread
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1. “Things are such a mess, I don’t know where to start”
A great PM knows their job is to bring order to the mess. "Remember friend, nobody asked you to show up." @kennethn
A great PM knows their job is to bring order to the mess. "Remember friend, nobody asked you to show up." @kennethn
2. “No one agrees on what the vision or strategy should be”
A great PM defines, articulates, aligns, and repeats the vision and strategy.
A great PM defines, articulates, aligns, and repeats the vision and strategy.
3. “I’ll let S&O/marketing/engineering figure this out”
A great PM gathers input from functional experts, and ensures all decisions are made with the users’ best interest in mind.
A great PM gathers input from functional experts, and ensures all decisions are made with the users’ best interest in mind.
4. “This is above my pay-grade”
A great PM navigates through organizational barriers and advocates for the right decisions to serve their users.
A great PM navigates through organizational barriers and advocates for the right decisions to serve their users.
5. “I’m waiting for UXR to tell me what the users need”
A great PM knows the user and jobs-to-be-done. They partner with UXR/others with technical expertise, but will never outsource the user/product discovery process.
A great PM knows the user and jobs-to-be-done. They partner with UXR/others with technical expertise, but will never outsource the user/product discovery process.
6. “I don’t understand why XYZ team is doing things this way”
A great PM empathizes with different perspectives across the organization. It does not mean they will agree with everyone, but they have to understand the why.
A great PM empathizes with different perspectives across the organization. It does not mean they will agree with everyone, but they have to understand the why.
7. “The leadership expectations/deadlines are not realistic”
A great PM presents clear tradeoffs to the leadership team, and ensures the operating team is set up for success.
A great PM presents clear tradeoffs to the leadership team, and ensures the operating team is set up for success.
8. “I have too much on my plate”
A great PM prioritizes high leverage tasks and manages their time.
A great PM prioritizes high leverage tasks and manages their time.
9. “That is the business/brand plan, I have a product plan”
A great PM ensures the “product” encapsulates everything a user touches and how the organization will deliver.
A great PM ensures the “product” encapsulates everything a user touches and how the organization will deliver.
10. “This is not my fault because I don’t manage XYZ team”
A great PM takes responsibility for everything a user experiences with zero organizational authority.
A great PM takes responsibility for everything a user experiences with zero organizational authority.
