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First thirty days of being a remote PM. Things that worked, didnt & I could do better.
1/n
1/n
First some context : Pexels is a fully remote team, however we have people mostly in US/EU timezones.
They have always been remote, even pre-covid!
2/n
They have always been remote, even pre-covid!
2/n
From my interview time, we had longer meetings & people are used to sitting through 1 hour calls
This is important because usually you just want to end the calls. But what I learnt was that when you are remote -This is the norm, so meetings are also catchups, treat them as is
3/n
This is important because usually you just want to end the calls. But what I learnt was that when you are remote -This is the norm, so meetings are also catchups, treat them as is
3/n
Anyway context set! I booked meetings with anyone that would take it. I had to catchup with all department heads anyway, but even beside that, I asked anyone to catchup with me. Remembering that, this is what I would do in an actual office helped.
4/n
4/n
Even if it is a casual chat - You end up learning a lot more about the team, what are the pressing issues & how they function.
How they function - Is still a learning for me, but as a PM you want this context set as early as possible so you know what to do
5/n
How they function - Is still a learning for me, but as a PM you want this context set as early as possible so you know what to do
5/n
The next advice that is thrown around is - Talk to customers - but noone explains HOW.
I read over 100 reviews on playstore/appstore. Responded to maybe 20(Low, working on this)
I read all old user interviews.
This helped set context! What do people like, dislike
6/n
I read over 100 reviews on playstore/appstore. Responded to maybe 20(Low, working on this)
I read all old user interviews.
This helped set context! What do people like, dislike
6/n
Information dump ( Im behind on this)
But I asked everyone to send me links, docs, folders on things they are talking about. I go read them when I can, I want to take time to understand all of it well rather than fast.
7/n
But I asked everyone to send me links, docs, folders on things they are talking about. I go read them when I can, I want to take time to understand all of it well rather than fast.
7/n
Snoop around
I have read messages dating 3 months before I joined
Helps me understand who these folks are
Problems they solved.
Company culture
& most importantly who is the person that I can reach out to&for what
Very important from a PM lens - Collaboration is everythin
8/n
I have read messages dating 3 months before I joined
Helps me understand who these folks are
Problems they solved.
Company culture
& most importantly who is the person that I can reach out to&for what
Very important from a PM lens - Collaboration is everythin
8/n
Conduct a session.
Despite all this reading, there is nothing that would get me closer to what to solve than talking to the group,
So I requested every manager across timezones to agree to a quick product sprint(Thank god the team agreed)
9/n
Despite all this reading, there is nothing that would get me closer to what to solve than talking to the group,
So I requested every manager across timezones to agree to a quick product sprint(Thank god the team agreed)
9/n
It was long 3 hours or so of structured discussion. You dont want people to often tell you solve xyz. As a PM you hve to know why solve it & why now. So these exercises helped me get there( Still WIP)but great progress.
100% recommend this exercise
10/n
100% recommend this exercise
10/n
Process setting
You carry some best practices from your time elsewhere, while you should not try to implement all of them, implementing some of it helps.
I set some basic stuff up, will take 3months to know what worked, but its good to have started something concrete
11/n
You carry some best practices from your time elsewhere, while you should not try to implement all of them, implementing some of it helps.
I set some basic stuff up, will take 3months to know what worked, but its good to have started something concrete
11/n
Communication is at the epicentre.
I shared this on day 3 with everyone, so on every call something got referenced. It helped get over the initial awkwardness & just get to work
https://www.vindhyac.com/posts/a-guide-to-working-with-vindhya/
12/n
I shared this on day 3 with everyone, so on every call something got referenced. It helped get over the initial awkwardness & just get to work
https://www.vindhyac.com/posts/a-guide-to-working-with-vindhya/
12/n
Jump in on calls
I sit on calls I have no context / contribution. I am useless here, but sitting on them allows me to learn & be prepared to do better.
I will take any call the teams will let me be.
13/n
I sit on calls I have no context / contribution. I am useless here, but sitting on them allows me to learn & be prepared to do better.
I will take any call the teams will let me be.
13/n
Dive first on open but almost done projects
I jumped in on few projects that have basic figured out, but I get to be part of some shipping so I can learn better about the product.
Im not completely useless here, but Im also not that useful.
14/n
I jumped in on few projects that have basic figured out, but I get to be part of some shipping so I can learn better about the product.
Im not completely useless here, but Im also not that useful.
14/n
Backlog projects.
There are so many things to get done, but not enough people to do it.
So Im picking things up that need to be solved now & doing it. Im not thinking strategy or data yet. Too early to ship via that.
Im just getting things done.
15/n
There are so many things to get done, but not enough people to do it.
So Im picking things up that need to be solved now & doing it. Im not thinking strategy or data yet. Too early to ship via that.
Im just getting things done.
15/n
Ok that is it for now.
It should have been a blogpost( & will be) but thought Ill thread it to write less flowery & more direct actionable things :D
Lmk if you want to know anything specific.
Onto first 60days as remote PM now :)
It should have been a blogpost( & will be) but thought Ill thread it to write less flowery & more direct actionable things :D
Lmk if you want to know anything specific.
Onto first 60days as remote PM now :)
