AMA: Jit.io VP of Product Management, Orit Golowinski on Product Management Skills

1. Active Listening: Product managers must possess exceptional listening skills to effectively comprehend various stakeholders' perspectives, market trends, and customer feedback. Active listening informs strategic product decisions and enables effective coaching of fellow product managers. Demonstrating the ability to discern not only spoken but also unspoken cues is crucial for understanding colleagues' needs and offering relevant support and guidance. 2. Empathy and Interpersonal Skills: Cultivating empathy is indispensable for product managers, facilitating meaningful interactions with team members and fostering collaborative relationships. Empathetic understanding of individual product managers fosters trust and rapport, enhancing teamwork and maximizing each team member's potential. Strong interpersonal skills enable product managers to navigate diverse personalities and communication styles, thereby facilitating smoother collaboration and more productive outcomes. 3. Trustworthiness and Reliability: Establishing trust is fundamental for product managers to inspire confidence among stakeholders, team members, and customers. Consistent reliability in delivering on commitments and upholding professional integrity reinforces credibility and fosters a conducive environment for successful product development. Trustworthiness is not only integral to individual effectiveness but also instrumental in building a culture of transparency and accountability within the product management ecosystem.

While intuition serves as a valuable starting point for Product Managers, particularly those well-versed in their field, market dynamics, and customer preferences, relying solely on intuition can lead to biases and blind spots. Product Managers may become overly attached to their ideas, making it challenging to pivot or abandon unsuccessful pursuits. Data serves as a crucial tool in validating assumptions and guiding decision-making. However, it's essential to recognize that data can be manipulated to support preconceived notions. Therefore, a balanced approach is imperative, emphasizing being data-informed rather than strictly data-driven. In instances where pioneering new categories or introducing innovative solutions, relying solely on existing data may not suffice. In such scenarios, taking calculated risks becomes necessary, accompanied by continuous stakeholder engagement and customer feedback to ensure alignment with genuine needs. Establishing metrics and data collection mechanisms from the outset is paramount. This facilitates ongoing evaluation of product performance and user engagement, enabling timely adjustments and preventing prolonged investment in misaligned initiatives.

Retaining good talent in the competitive landscape of product management requires a proactive approach focused on fostering growth, trust, and a sense of impact within the team. Here are some effective strategies: 1. Career Growth Opportunities: Provide clear pathways for career advancement and professional development. Offer opportunities for skill enhancement, leadership roles, and cross-functional collaboration to keep product managers engaged and motivated. 2. Trust and Responsibility: Empower product managers by delegating meaningful responsibilities and trusting them to make impactful decisions. Cultivate an environment where autonomy and ownership are valued, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. 3. Continuous Learning: Encourage a culture of continuous learning and skill development. Provide access to training programs, workshops, and resources to help product managers strengthen their abilities in areas such as presentation skills, data collection and analysis, vision setting, and measuring success. 4. Competitive Benefits and Packages: Stay competitive with compensation and benefits packages to attract and retain top talent. Offer competitive salaries, bonuses, and perks, as well as comprehensive health and wellness benefits. 5. Showcasing Impact: Recognize and celebrate the impact of product managers on the business. Highlight success stories and the tangible outcomes of their work to reinforce their value and contribution to the organization. By prioritizing career growth, trust, continuous learning, competitive benefits, and showcasing impact, organizations can create an environment that fosters talent retention and enables product managers to thrive in their roles.

While embarking on a product management journey, it's important to acknowledge that most companies typically do not seek out fresh graduates for product management positions. The role demands a high level of strategic thinking and decision-making, often requiring years of expertise and a comprehensive understanding of both technical and business aspects. However, while securing entry-level roles in product management may be challenging, it's not impossible. Seeking out internship opportunities, continuous learning, and mentorship can significantly enhance your chances of breaking into the field. Additionally, being proactive in networking and showcasing your skills through projects or relevant experiences can also help demonstrate your readiness for a career in product management. It's essential to recognize that transitioning into product management may require persistence and dedication, but with the right approach and a commitment to continuous improvement, recent graduates can certainly carve out a path towards success in this dynamic and rewarding field. To embark on a successful journey into product management, recent graduates can consider the following strategies: 1. Explore Internship Opportunities: Consider seeking out internship opportunities in product management to gain practical experience and exposure to real-world scenarios. Internships provide invaluable learning opportunities and can serve as a stepping stone to a full-time product management role. 2. Embrace Continuous Learning: Educate yourself about product management principles and best practices through courses, workshops, and relevant literature. Recommended reading materials include books by industry experts that cover topics such as product strategy, user research, and roadmap prioritization. 3. Read about Product Management: Reading books authored by experts in the field offers invaluable insights into key principles and best practices. Here are some highly recommended books that can help you deepen your understanding of product management: 1. "Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love" by Marty Cagan (Silicon Valley Product Group) 2. "The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses" by Eric Ries 3. "Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert B. Cialdini 4. "The Product Manager's Handbook" by Linda Gorchels 5. "The Lean Product Playbook: How to Innovate with Minimum Viable Products and Rapid Customer Feedback" by Dan Olsen 6. "The Product Book: How to Become a Great Product Manager" by C. Todd Lombardo, Bruce McCarthy, and Tom Cummings 7. "The Art of Product Management: Lessons from a Silicon Valley Innovator" by Marty Cagan 8. "Cracking the PM Interview" by Gayle Laakmann McDowell 9. "The Product Manager's Desk Reference" by Steven Haines 10. "Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days" by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz 4. Seek Mentorship: Connect with experienced product managers who can provide guidance and mentorship as you navigate the transition into the field. Or join a specialized Product Management mentorship program such as Product League. By adopting a proactive approach to skill development, seeking mentorship, exploring internship opportunities, and leveraging available resources, recent graduates can position themselves for success in product management roles.

In the past year, while searching to recruit for product management roles at Jit.io, a DevSecOps platform focused on simplifying continuous security for cloud applications, I often seek candidates with developer backgrounds or experience in security tools. This preference stems from the belief that such individuals possess a deeper understanding of the target persona and domain intricacies, facilitating more effective product management. However, to address domain hiring bias, I implement several strategies. Firstly, I prioritize internal referrals, recognizing the value of peer insights into a candidate's character and fit within the team. If a team member recommends someone, it indicates a level of trust and compatibility that transcends specific domain expertise. Additionally, I design an assignment that assesses candidates' problem-solving abilities, curiosity, presentation skills, and overall approach to new challenges. This task is intentionally unrelated to the product domain, allowing candidates from diverse backgrounds to showcase their capabilities on an equal footing. It provides valuable insights into their adaptability and potential for learning new domains, which are essential qualities for successful product managers. As someone who transitioned from different disciplines and domains myself, I understand firsthand that the ability to learn and adapt quickly is pivotal in product management. While domain expertise can be beneficial, it is not a definitive criterion for success. Ultimately, I prioritize qualities such as drive, passion, and a willingness to learn, recognizing that these attributes often outweigh specific domain knowledge in the long run.