Product Management Skills
LATEST POSTS
Priming and the Science behind Onboarding
Priming is a powerful psychological tool in influencing consumer decisions and something product managers can use, to great effect, when onboarding new users. In this article, discover how and see examples of effective priming in play. What is it that makes us think about the SKY when we see the word BLUE? Why is it […]
How do you Become a Product Manager?
I’ve been building digital products for nearly a decade now. A few weeks ago, a friend messaged me for advice on becoming a product manager. We chatted on the phone and then I realised that I’m asked this question so often that it seemed a good idea to condense my thoughts into an article. So, […]
Product-Led Growth - Ashley Smith on The Product Experience
Presently a partner at expansion stage venture capital firm OpenView, Ashley Smith has a long career of helping early-stage startups scale into successful organisations. In this episode, Ashley talks to our hosts about product-led growth, and how everyone can and should do it. Quote of the Episode It really comes down to: listen to your […]
Six Common Traps that Undermine Strategic Product Management
Increasingly product managers are expected to think and operate “strategically”, but, as this post will reveal, it’s a requirement that can lead to misaligned expectations and be full of traps for the unwary. Surely we’ve all noticed the increased emphasis on “strategy” as a core competency for product managers? Of course, keeping tactical work aligned […]
Five Habits of Highly-Effective Product Teams
How do you develop an understanding of what will set a product up for success throughout your organization? This blog looks at what actions product managers can take to ensure their teams are investing their time wisely. “If you build it, they will come” is not an effective philosophy in product development, but time and […]
The Meaning of MVP - Correcting Common Misconceptions
Everyone has their own interpretation of what minimum viable product (MVP) means to their organization and, while the specifics of an MVP definition may vary, this blog explores what an MVP is, and what it definitely is not. A successful MVP is critical to building a successful digital product: it’s the focused feature set that […]
A Product Manager's Guide to Saying No
As a product manager you have to say no to stakeholders, a lot. Find out how to master the art of saying no with empathy, so you can maintain positive relationships and stop all those zombie ideas from haunting you. On a field trip, you speak to John, a user. John is super-engaged with your product […]
Personal Growth - the Essence of Your Product Career by Kristina Walcker-Mayer
In this talk from #MTP Engage Hamburg, I look at how you can embrace and accept your strengths and weaknesses and at what kind of people should you partner up with to create true value and drive success for your customers, your company, and yourself. Product careers are very complex because they require a very […]
Data-Driven Blunders and how to Avoid Them
“We are a data-driven company”. You’ll travel far and wide before you find a tech startup that doesn’t pride itself on this claim. It’s become a tech staple – alongside free beer on Fridays, table football, and all the fruit you could dream of. And, while the logic behind a data-driven approach is undeniable, too often […]
How to Avoid Market Feedback Traps
If you were to ask me whether you, as a product manager, should you always listen to market feedback? My answer would be yes, definitely. Sometimes. Here’s why. Henry Ford is famously quoted as eschewing market feedback by saying that if he’d listened to his customers, they’d have asked for faster horses. Interestingly, I learned […]