PocketCPO

A Chief Product Officer, strategy & communication expert in your pocket. Pithy wisdom for product people: communicate better, create impact, accelerate careers

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

Are you gold-plating features when you’re still pre-PMF (Product/Market Fit)? Knowing where your product is in its business model maturity lifecycle helps with knowing when to stop polishing. #OpportunityCost #productmanagement #PMF #Innovation

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

One of my favourites from the many wonderful wisdoms of @lizandmollie ... no point ruminating on past mistakes. Decide how you'll adjust going forward... #personaldevelopment

[Library Path @LibraryPath]

7.

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

Ever presented to decision-makers and didn't get the response you were expecting and so you just kept talking?
#TalkingToExecs #Communication #Presentations

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

Have you got your #SaaS value tiers right? The Leaders, Fillers & Killers framework from @simonkucherpartners should be your go-to. #value #productmarketing

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

You have to create value to capture value. That's called a value exchange. If you're not capturing enough value, your value creation is not going to be sustainable. Get interested in which problems your customers will pay you the most to solve. #product #commercialisation

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

Strategy without execution is a manifesto. 💯

[Shreyas Doshi @shreyas]

Always remember: strategy is first & foremost about the How. Strategy is not the What.

It can state the What, but without the How, it isn’t actually a strategy. It is just a hope, a manifesto, a goal, a fantasy, a collection of aspirational empty words. It isn’t a real strategy.

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

Want to be a better communicator? Actively work on your self awareness, your courage and your active listening. #leadership behaviours count, no matter your role.

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

When presenting to executives, ask yourself: what does your audience care about? What do you want them to think, feel and do after hearing your presentation? Then get to the point 👉

[PocketCPO @PocketCPO]

Dale Carnegie's classic speech advice is still useful today for structuring presentations and engaging audiences. #communication #productmanagement

[Lenny Rachitsky @lennysan]

Gojek completes more food deliveries than GrubHub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash combined, and more rides per day than Lyft. Vikrama Dhiman (@vikramadhiman) heads all things product at @GojekTech, including product management, design, and research, across teams in Indonesia, Singapore and India. He is among the most well-known and respected product leaders in all of Asia, and one of my most requested guests.

In our conversation, we discuss:
🔸 The most common traits of successful PMs
🔸 The 3 W’s framework for PM career growth
🔸 The right way to push back as a PM
🔸 The Four A’s of leveling up in product management
🔸 Common pitfalls that stall PM careers
🔸 Advice for transitioning into PM
🔸 Why intent alone is not enough
🔸 Much more

Listen now 👇
- YouTube: https://t.co/k62euhLZoF
- Spotify: https://t.co/eIHUmTFROf
- Apple: https://t.co/4yv6KvqjxZ

Some key takeaways:

1. As a PM—especially early in your career—make sure you’re nailing execution before you spend too much time on strategy. Effective strategic thinking requires context on the company, product, and stakeholders that you might not have yet. But you always have opportunities to execute and make your team members’ lives easier. As you execute more, you’ll begin to understand the strategic needs more deeply, and you’ll have more opportunities to contribute at that level.

2. Three traits that make you a great PM to work with:
a. Raise difficult issues without being difficult to work with
b. Bring up important topics without drawing importance to yourself
c. Remember that you are in charge of getting decisions made, not making the decisions yourself

3. Good PMs produce good artifacts: PRDs, product notes, design briefs, etc. These demonstrate your proficiency across core PM skills, and they are your opportunity to “have impact on the impact”—to add value to a team that is adding value to the company. If you’re not sure what to focus on next in your PM career, go scrutinize your recent artifacts and ask how they could be improved.

4. To push back on ideas without being difficult to work with, ask clarifying questions and bring the conversation to a logical space rather than an emotional one. Here are some of Vikrama’s favorites:
a. Why has this become suddenly important?
b. So that I am clear, can you help clarify xyz?
c. What would success look like?
d. What time frame do you need this in?

5. Vikrama’s 3 W’s framework for PM career growth comprises (1) what you produce, (2) what you bring to the table, and (3) what your operating model is. Strong product managers excel at two of the three W’s. Product managers who rise in their career excel at all three.

6. Three mindset shifts that can enable faster growth:
a. Focus on things you can control: Concentrate your efforts on aspects of your role that you can influence or control, especially as you advance in your career.
b. Always embrace change: As an IC PM, you experience rapid change. It’s important that as you get to mid/senior level, you never stop looking for ways to improve.
c. How you see yourself: Cultivate a positive and growth-oriented mindset about yourself and your capabilities.

7. Three core competencies to focus on when transitioning into PM roles are (1) data, (2) design/research, and (3) technology. Someone from a design background should focus on strengthening data or tech skills to complement their existing expertise. Similarly, someone from a tech background should pick a design skill to focus on. This approach allows for maximum leverage.