What would be your advice or go to resources for a PM to build one critical thinking skills?

See question: “What are good OKRs for product management?” for a general introduction to the topic. To achieve high level of critical thinking, and remove many biases, it is particularly important to adopt strict scientific methodologies. Observe, formulate questions, make hypotheses, experiment and analyse data, formulates and communicate conclusions, and finally iterate. See question: “How do you approach setting crisp KPIs and targets for Engine features and linking them to your topline metri ...Read More

Critical thinking is one of the most underrated PM skills. It’s what helps you separate noise from signal, ask the right questions, and make trade-offs with confidence. Here are a few thoughts…  1. Build the habit of structured thinking. Use frameworks (5 Whys, first principles, pros/cons, decision trees). The goal isn’t to sound fancy,it’s to force yourself to slow down and test assumptions. Example: when a stakeholder says “we need feature X,” instead of saying yes/no, ask: “What problem are w ...Read More

To expand your critical thinking, stay curious, and ask lots of questions. Early on you might need to focus on your specific area or role to ensure you are driving value for it - go deep so that you are a true expert on it. As you build  expertise in that area, look at other areas of the product and overall business / strategy.  The more you learn, the better you’ll be at connecting ideas, problems, and solutions across the product and organization.  As you do this, be intentional about defining ...Read More

One can build critical thinking on the job by analyzing data, balancing customer and business needs, and seeking feedback on your work. You should also complement this with external learning through product communities, case studies, and product critiques to expose yourself to diverse perspectives. On-the-Job Learning Analyze data critically: You should regularly review product and business data. Ask yourself questions like "What does this data actually tell me?" and "What could explain these tr ...Read More