Post on 23-Jan-2018
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Slides posted online afterwards (I promise)
@_shaunrussell
Education of a product manager
😞 😖 😫 😱 😭
Life as a product manager
(told by emojis)
The things nobody told me about being a
Product Manager
Existentialism for Product Managers
Your work is intangible.
😞
Your work is intangible.
You are forever tackling uncertainty.😞
Existentialism for Product Managers
Your work is intangible.
You are forever tackling uncertainty.
You’re supposed to know less
than your colleagues.
😞
Existentialism for Product Managers
Your work is intangible.
You are forever tackling uncertainty.
You’re supposed to know less
than your colleagues.
There is no finish line.
😞
Existentialism for Product Managers
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Go watch other PMs in action.
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Nurture friendships
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Find your own meaning.
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The greatest damn Product Manager
in the world.
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Nope.
What is your superpower?
What is your dream product?
How would you like your colleagues to think of you?
1.
2.
3.
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The trouble with stakeholders
Your relationship is not reciprocal.
😱
The trouble with stakeholders
Your relationship is not reciprocal.
They will think they know best.😱
The trouble with stakeholders
Your relationship is not reciprocal.
They will think they know best.
They have long and selective
memories.
😱
The trouble with stakeholders
Your relationship is not reciprocal.
They will think they know best.
They have long and selective
memories.
You get all the responsibility,
but none of the power.
😱
Confront issues head on.
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Make use of external sources.
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“Rarely say yes”
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26Source: https://blog.intercom.io/rarely-say-yes-to-feature-requests/
Will it still matter in 5 years?
Will it improve, complement or innovate on the existing workflow?
Will it generate new meaningful engagement?
Can we design it so that reward is greater than effort?
Can we scope it well?
Listen to your gut
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Takeaways
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Stakeholder ManagementConfront issues head on.
Make use of external sources.
Listen to your gut.
Looking after yourselfGo watch other PMs in action.
Nurture friendships.
Find your own meaning.
😞😖😫😱😭
😊😎
😝
👻
😂@_shaunrussell
Thank you!