I think that the ideal product manager can be described as sensitive, proactive, and holistic. To be a successful product manager, it seems just as important to be receptive to the personalities and emotions of the team as it is to be able to have meaningful conversations on a matching technical level. The overall role is extremely high variance. Being the bridge between people means navigating so many different personalities and egos, while also having to navigate your own tasks within the context of your product’s current situation. The actual tasks that a product manager has to accomplish seem extremely dependent on factors such as what stage of the product or company you’re in or the capabilities of your team.
I found the most interesting part of the reading to be the impact of insecurity on a product manager’s role. I think what really stuck with me throughout the reading was how often we’re well-intentioned about doing something, yet how susceptible that action is to backfire in intention. I think that in a role where it’s so easy for your ideas to feel intruded upon, it seems extremely likely for conflict to arise from disagreement with a well-intentioned act. Ultimately, I think being a product manager entails being able to empathize with these complicated situations while navigating around them to develop the product.
My question for the author is: What’s the most effective thing for someone to do to develop competence as a product manager and have the ability to navigate all of the complicated roles, personalities, egos, etc.?
