Benedict Godwin’s Post

Great product ideas are like diamonds in the rough – valuable, but needing refinement. A product manager MUST be aware of the technical feasibility of their vision. We all dream up amazing features, some even driven by market demand. But sometimes, those dreams hit a technical wall. The key isn't becoming a coding wizard, but building a strong bridge with your engineering team. Regularly discuss your ideas with them. Explore feasibility, identify roadblocks, and brainstorm alternatives. Collaboration is key to turning those brilliant ideas into polished products. #ProductManagement #ProjectManagement #Product #ProductOwner #Tech # Technology

Hard skills aren't what make great product managers great. Coding, design, technology, Agile aren’t what you need. Product management is mostly about people. What problem are you solving? Who are you solving it for? How are they solving that problem today? How are you going to solve it? How will you get your product in front of people? Who will help you scale it? Sure, requirements, designs, dependencies, APIs, end to end flows, marketing plans, GTM, backlogs and user stories are important. But the ultimate connector of everything are the people in the center of it all. Product management is a human endeavor. That is why it is so important to build communication, collaboration and cooperation skills. We can’t build alone. And we can’t build without a person ready to use our products. ****** I'm Austin, a product management leader, ex strategy consultant, former university educator and micro-PE investor. If you found this helpful, consider resharing ♻️ and follow for more content. ****** #productmanagement, #productdevelopment, #softwaredevelopment, #innovation #management, #technology, #careers, #marketing, #personaldevelopment, #programming, #design, #sales, #engineering, #careerdevelopment, #ux, #uxdesign

Can you believe it? I've already been in Product Management at Sallie Mae for more than a year! As someone who studied mechanical engineering and later Engineering Management with no full time experience in PM, I had no idea what to expect when I started. But let me tell you, I've grown and learned more than I could have imagined. Looking back on this incredible journey, here are the top 5 lessons that really stand out: 1. Becoming a prioritization ninja - I used to struggle with juggling all the demands and requests coming from every direction. But through lots of practice (and a few late nights), I've sharpened my skills in focusing on the most important things. Saying no diplomatically and getting everyone aligned is a muscle I've definitely strengthened! 2. Adapting my communication style - As an engineer at heart, I love diving into technical details. But I've worked hard to tailor my message for different audiences. I've stretched myself to communicate effectively. 3. Becoming data-driven - I'll admit, I used to zone out when people started pulling up charts. Now, I'm constantly digging into analytics to understand how features are performing, monitor key metrics, and uncover customer pain points. Data and I are becoming close friends, and it's so rewarding to turn numbers into actionable insights. 4. Embracing the power of experimentation - With my engineering background, I initially hesitated to ship anything that wasn't perfect. However, I've come to appreciate the value of putting ideas out there quickly, even if they're rough around the edges. 5. Nurturing a supportive team - Above all, I've learned that being a PM is a team sport. I'm constantly in awe of my incredible design, engineering, and marketing colleagues. We navigate through a lot together. Building trust and discovering the most effective ways to collaborate has been crucial to creating amazing products! I know I still have a TON to learn (and probably always will). But I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity and for the fantastic people I get to grow with every single day. It's been a wild and rewarding first year, and I can't wait to see what exciting challenges and triumphs the future holds! #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProdMgmt #ProductDevelopment #ProductStrategy #UserExperience #UX #CustomerCentric #ProductRoadmap #ProductLaunch #ProductAnalytics #DataDriven #ProductOwner #Agile #Scrum #LeanStartup #MVP #ProductLeadership #ProductInnovation #ProductMarketing #CrossFunctionalTeams #Stakeholders #ProductDesign #SaaS #TechProducts #B2BProducts #B2CProducts #ProductGrowth #ProductMetrics #ProductLifecycle

Things to Stop Doing as a Product Manager 1. Stop complaining about your engineers: Instead of complaining, work with them to understand their challenges and priorities. Collaborate to find solutions and provide necessary resources to help them succeed. 2. Stop complaining about product designers: Rather than criticizing their designs, engage in constructive feedback and collaboration. Allow them walk you through their thought process and work together to create user-centered products. 3. Stop complaining about stakeholders: Instead of grumbling about their demands, proactively communicate and manage their expectations. Build relationships and prioritize their needs to ensure alignment and support. 4. Stop complaining about customers: Rather than dismissing their feedback, actively listen and empathize with their pain points. Use their insights to inform product decisions and deliver value to meet their needs. What else do you think product managers should stop doing? I’ll love to hear from you in the comments. #LinkedIn #LinkedInFam #Productmanagers #productdesigners #engineers #stakeholders #customers #productmanagement

Essential Non-Technical Skills for Product Managers Product management isn't just about features and functions! Great PMs are masters of the soft skills that keep things running smoothly and drive results. While coding skills can be a plus, some of the greatest product managers are masters of the non-technical side of the game. These are the skills that bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and successful products. In this post I shared five non-technical skills every product manager needs. What are your top non-technical PM skills? Share in the comments! #productmanagement #pmlife #nontechnicalskills #softkills #productleader #productstrategy #ux #productdesign #entrepreneur #business My name is Osarugue, and I empower you to thrive through personal and professional development.

- to summarize feature teams vs. empowered product teams: Feature teams are cross-functional (a product manager doing mainly project management, a product designer, plus some engineers), and assigned features and projects to build rather than problems to solve, and as such they are all about output and not business results. Empowered product teams are also cross-functional (a product manager, a product designer, and engineers), but in contrast to feature teams, they are assigned problems to solve, and are then empowered to come up with solutions that work-measured by outcome-and held accountable to results. #uxresearch #productdiscovery #empowered

🚀 **Product Manager Alert**: Trying to out-tech your Engineering team? 🛑 Don't! It's a total 🚫. Instead, here's your game plan: 1. 👂 **Know Thy Customers**: Dive into their world! Understand their pain points, goals, and daily lives. 2. 🧠 **Strategy Ninja**: Become a master in crafting visions and strategies that dazzle. Think 4D chess, not checkers. ♟️ 3. 💬 **Tech Talk Basics**: Just enough to have a convo with your engineers without sounding like you Googled "how to tech". 🤓 4. 🤝 **Decision Whisperer**: Foster a collaborative vibe. Use those teamwork muscles and respect everyone’s superpowers! 💪 5. ❓ **Clarification King/Queen**: Don’t be shy! “Hey, can we get this in plain English for the mere mortals in the room?” 📣 Remember, you’re here to create magic 🪄, not code it. Deliver products that make people go "Wow!" 🤩 and keep your company rocking. 🎸 So, let your engineers shine like the tech rockstars they are 🌟 while you steer the product ship with laser-focused vision. 🚢 In short, **be the product guru, not the techie**. 😎 #ProductManagement #TechTeamLove #CustomerFirst #Strategy #Collaboration #Leadership #ProductVision #TechLife #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #SEOFriendly #HashtagOverload #EpicProductManager #FunAtWork #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork #ProductNerd #WinningTogether

One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about my role as a Product Manager is the variety of hats I get to wear. While my main focus is enhancing the product and its experience for our customers, there are days where I get to pivot and focus on design principles. Other days, I dive deep into technical skills to better communicate with my engineering team. The ability to take requirements and translate them correctly is fulfilling, and sets my team up for success. I’m grateful to have a direct manager who fosters creativity, encourages bouncing ideas, and welcomes the question “why?” a hundred times over. Working on a smaller team without a dedicated UX team or a large user base has been valuable in building my PM foundations. As a PM or Program Manager, what do you value the most about your role? Let's chat in the comments below. #productmanager #productmanagement #programmanagement

🌐 The Multifaceted Role of a Product Engineer In the realm of tech innovation, Product Engineers are the cornerstone of success. Here's a glimpse into what makes them indispensable: 👨💻 Technical & Design Mastery: Proficiency in software languages and tools is just the start. A strong grasp of UI/UX and design principles sets them apart. 🧩 Problem Solving & Project Management: They're not just engineers; they're exceptional problem solvers with robust project management skills. 🔍 Balancing Act: Product Engineers skillfully juggle technical constraints with user needs, ensuring a harmonious blend of functionality and user experience. 🤝 Collaboration is Key: Working closely with, or as part of, the development team, they constantly refine features, ensuring seamless integration and functionality. 🚀 Facing Challenges Head-On: Tight deadlines, technical limitations, and integrating user feedback are just stepping stones for them. Their problem-solving prowess turns challenges into innovative solutions, benefitting both the product and its users. 💼 Leaders in the Making: Starting with a solid foundation in software and design, they often evolve into strategic roles, paving their way to becoming senior product managers or even CTOs. 🌟 A Product Engineer is not just a role; it's a journey of continuous growth, innovation, and leadership. They're not just building products; they're sculpting the future of technology. #ProductEngineering #TechInnovation #ProblemSolving #ProjectManagement #UIUX #SoftwareDevelopment #Leadership #CareerGrowth #CTOPath #TechLeadership

“Can I be a good product manager if I don’t have an engineering background?” That was one of my biggest concerns talking about moving into product management. I thought being able to write technical requirements and code were required skills. But that perceived weakness ended up being a strength. My inability to program kept me mostly out of the solution space and allowed the engineers (and designers) to focus on how to solve problems. And it forced me to spend that much more time understanding our business, our customer, and the data to develop better outcome roadmaps and identify insights that led to those outcomes. I had to rely on our team to come up with solutions, I didn’t have an alternative! #Empowered #EmpoweredTeams #Product #ProductManagement