Recently I got a message from one of the members of my InnerCircle. Here’s how the conversation started.
Before we dive in… A little introduction🥰
Hi, my name is Miracle a developer turned ProductSis💜. I am passionate about people, problems, and products. Recently I’ve decided to commit to helping aspiring and early-career PMs like myself navigate the world of product. I work and walk with them to build and nurture their skills for a thriving career in product.
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Now back to the focus of this article. If you were found in a similar position as my friend, what would you do?
“I’ve learned all there is to know about the product world (at least the basics👀), the different stages, the tools, the frameworks, the methodologies but how do I apply it in real scenarios?”
Believe it or not, this is a common question/struggle in the product space but even more common amongst those early in their career.
Here are a few thoughts:
- Be clear – first things first, you need to be clear on what problem you are trying to solve with the product, who it is for, what is it meant to do, and what it can do now.
Is there a strategy? Or are we just winging it?
- What stage is the product currently in?
In product management, there’s what we call the product development lifecycle.
Knowing the stage the product is currently in helps you make the best decision on where to start.
What has been done so far? What’s missing?
- What action will benefit the team and product the most, now?
One thing I have come to realise is that when it comes to product management there’s definitely no one-size-fits-all approach. There are concepts and frameworks to guide you but when it comes to getting your hands dirty and getting things done, you have the responsibility to decide what comes first or the relevant action to take.
What does the team need help with now? How can I help make their processes easier? Where should I be channeling my energy to?
A way to help could be unblocking the engineers by working on a PRD that helps them understand expected user behaviors or a roadmap that provides a clear direction of where the team is headed.
Now…
