First time Product Leader? Congrats! It's hard to make the leap, but once you're there, now you got to keep the position.
Here's the most common mistakes I see first time product leaders make so you can avoid them. /1 🧵
#prodmgmt
Here's the most common mistakes I see first time product leaders make so you can avoid them. /1 🧵
#prodmgmt
1. Focusing too much on processes and ignoring the roadmap.
While you have to implement the process and structure for the organization, remember you're also the person responsible for vision and direction. You need to balance working on both of these things.
While you have to implement the process and structure for the organization, remember you're also the person responsible for vision and direction. You need to balance working on both of these things.
2. Blaming others
"I can't do this because the CXO won't let me." You're now a leader, it's up to you to usher things through. You shouldn't be asking permission of the other leaders, you should be working with them.
No one is coming to save you. You got to take initiative.
"I can't do this because the CXO won't let me." You're now a leader, it's up to you to usher things through. You shouldn't be asking permission of the other leaders, you should be working with them.
No one is coming to save you. You got to take initiative.
3. Getting too into the weeds
It's easy to get sucked into backlog prioritization or pick up the slack for a team. You're good at that stuff, that's why you were promoted. That's no longer your job. Hire the right people, and focus on the bigger picture.
It's easy to get sucked into backlog prioritization or pick up the slack for a team. You're good at that stuff, that's why you were promoted. That's no longer your job. Hire the right people, and focus on the bigger picture.
4. Not forging relationships with the other leaders
Your first team is now your leadership team. You need to understand them, their goals, and how they work. You need them on your side. Spend time with these people.
Your first team is now your leadership team. You need to understand them, their goals, and how they work. You need them on your side. Spend time with these people.
5. Not communicating effectively with the board
What does a board want to know? How does the product roadmap == hitting company goals. That's the story you need to weave. Too much detail is no good. If they are asking for more detail, they're probably not getting the right info.
What does a board want to know? How does the product roadmap == hitting company goals. That's the story you need to weave. Too much detail is no good. If they are asking for more detail, they're probably not getting the right info.
6. Not planning for scale before you need to scale
Product Operations, Org Design, Strategy Deployment -you need to plan each stage of your business. If you need to hire 20 product managers at once to keep up, you waited too long. Plan early, and refine as you need to.
Product Operations, Org Design, Strategy Deployment -you need to plan each stage of your business. If you need to hire 20 product managers at once to keep up, you waited too long. Plan early, and refine as you need to.
7. Enable the team
Once you build the team, make sure they have what they need to succeed - a clear strategy, data, access to customers. They're success is your success.
Once you build the team, make sure they have what they need to succeed - a clear strategy, data, access to customers. They're success is your success.
8. Remember that not every size/ type of company is right for everyone.
You need to find your fit. Are you a startup VP? A growth CPO? A corporate negotiator?
Product Leadership isn't a linear path with the size of company. You need to find your sweet spot.
You need to find your fit. Are you a startup VP? A growth CPO? A corporate negotiator?
Product Leadership isn't a linear path with the size of company. You need to find your sweet spot.
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