What Every PM Should Know: 5 Common Product Management Myths.

There is a lot of information out there about product management that can make people wrong about what the job really entails. As a product manager with several years of experience, I want to bust five common myths in this article. With a few years of experience in the field, I've seen my fair share of misunderstandings. I want to clear things up, especially for people who want to become product managers. By removing these myths, I hope to give people a better idea of what product management is really like and how to do it.

Myth 1: Product Management is Just for Tech Geeks and Engineers

Reality

Product management pulls people from many fields, such as business, engineering, UX/UI design, and the liberal arts. Technical knowledge is useful, but it is not required for success in product management. Effective product managers have a diverse set of abilities, including strategic thinking, communication, problem-solving, and a thorough understanding of market dynamics and consumer behaviour.

Having a background in software development offers various advantages. For example, I can swiftly onboard and implement feature ideas since I understand difficult challenges well. This enables me to efficiently interact with software and QA engineers, data analysts, as well as educate non-technical colleagues on our product capabilities and technology constraints. For example, I've always appreciated using tools like Google Analytics and Looker Studio. Last year, when the data team was unable to construct a dashboard to track feature performance, I was able to create my own. This allowed my team to have a greater understanding of the feature's impact and uptake, as well as other principles such as marketing teams to make data-driven decisions.

Myth 2: Product Managers Call the Shots, or We Are Like the CEO of the Product

Reality: 

Product managers do not have complete control over product decisions. Instead, we work with cross-functional teams such as engineering, design, marketing, and sales to coordinate efforts and ensure product success. Effective product managers lead by influence rather than authority, using their experience, user research, data, communication skills, and strategic vision to unify colleagues around a common purpose.

For example, at the start of this year, a critical piece of work was given top priority. However, we were unable to deprioritize the task in progress. By explicitly communicating the goal with other product managers in my domain, I was able to secure development assistance for my team. This allowed us to create value outside of our committed work while also demonstrating our ability to interact proactively and openly for the growth of the business. By communicating clearly throughout the process, I was able to coordinate the cross-functional teams and drive the project to success despite the organisational complexities.

🦸‍♂️ We may not be superheroes, but product managers work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring ideas to life, solve complex problems, and deliver real value. It's all about teamwork, strategy, and continuous learning. 💡

Myth 3: Product Managers are Ticket-Writing Machines

Reality 

Writing JIRA tasks is just one aspect of a product manager's responsibilities. Beyond documentation, we are in charge of developing the product vision, discovering features, prioritising them, and driving the product roadmap. To ensure the product's success, cross-functional teams must collaborate on continuously, collect user input, analyse market trends, and make data-driven decisions.

Whereas an engineer's user journey begins with viewing their first JIRA ticket, a product manager's journey begins with an idea, a question, or a spike in a metric. It concludes with post-launch analysis and choosing the following rounds of iteration, covering the complete product life-cycle.

Myth 4: You Need Decades of Experience to Be a Product Manager

Reality 

While experience can certainly be an asset, it is not the only pathway to a successful career in product management. Many product managers have risen to prominence through their ability to leverage transferable skills, adapt to new challenges, and continuously learn and grow within their roles.

For example, at my current company, a colleague moved from customer service to product management. She excelled in her new work thanks to her extensive knowledge of client pain areas and exceptional communication abilities. Even if you don't have decades of experience, you can make a solid case for yourself by focusing on transferable talents and establishing a track record of problem solving and innovation.

Myth 5: Product Managers are Just Project Managers in Disguise

Reality

Contrary to popular belief, product management involves more than just timelines for projects. While we manage schedules, our primary role is to discover client pain spots, imagine solutions, and lead cross-functional teams to implement those answers, finally deliver value to the business.

For example, during a recent product launch, my responsibilities included performing extensive user research to identify pain points, defining a strategic vision for the solution, and collaborating closely with the engineering and design teams to ensure the finished product fulfilled user demands and business objectives. This commitment separates product managers from project managers, who are often concerned with timeline and resource management.

Conclusion

I hope this piece helps you grasp what product management is and isn't by going into its complexities and realities. Effective product managers possess a wide range of skills, including strategic thinking, communication, cooperation, and a constant emphasis on providing value to customers.

Calling all aspiring product managers: Reflect on your current responsibilities and identify which ones you believe could be transferable to a product management role. Seasoned product managers, we'd love to hear from you too! Share which skills you brought from previous roles that proved to be invaluable in your journey as a PM.

Let's foster a community of learning and support as we navigate the diverse landscape of product management together.

Follow me @sociable.pm for more insights on Product Management for collective success!