Eugene Shih’s Post

As an athlete and product manager, this message deeply resonates with me. In product management, it’s easy to get sidetracked by various priorities, like pleasing managers or stakeholders, or aiming for promotions. I appreciate Shreyas' point about how long-term career success lies in making the product win. The drive to win fosters a relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation. In my experience, whether in endurance sports or managing a product, the true competition is often with oneself. The drive to constantly improve and be better than yesterday is essential for reaching the full potential of both our genetics and new enabling technology.

The biggest mindset shift most senior PMs / Designers / Eng Mgrs / TLs who are building customer-facing products in midsized & large companies must make: Your main job is to make your product win. While it may seem like this Job # 1 should be obvious to all, it really isn’t. Here are some other leading contenders for Job # 1: - Main job is to make my manager happy - Main job is to make execs happy - Main job is to keep stakeholders happy - Main job is to keep team members happy - Main job is to build excellent systems - Main job is to get promoted - Main job is to launch as promised - Main job is to create user delight - Main job is to create customer value (some people LOVE saying this one) Now, I understand that we live in the real world and that there are “good reasons” why the above contenders are at least worthy of consideration. But I am saying what I am saying precisely because we live in the real world and because I think you should do your best to improve your odds of *long-term career success*. You see, as a passionate & ambitious product person who builds the mindset of making your product win as your Job # 1, you will do things & learn things that most of your other peers are not doing & learning. And by doing that over the long arc of your career, you will position yourself to reach closer to whatever is your optimal success potential. This is clearly not the only possible path and it may not be the right path for some / many (no single path can be). But it is at least worth considering if it seems to feel right to you. Most people spend years / decades in mid-sized & large companies and yet are never even told that this is an option they should consider for their long-term career success. If that is you, I want you to view this post just as a possibly helpful pointer. If it doesn’t resonate, that’s totally fine. But if it does resonate, you might over the long-term see yourself becoming a more competent, a more effective, and possibly even a more happy product person.

A considerable number of people ask whether or not they've selected the most suitable career path in order to achieve professional fulfillment. These individuals might contemplate switching to product management (PM), drawn to the field by the enticing salary opportunities and the general sense of enthusiasm associated with it. The actuality is considerably more nuanced. I have come across a considerable number of people in my network who have expressed interest in entering the field of product management, only to discover that their expectations and skill set may not be compatible with it. This emphasizes the significance of self-reflection prior to undertaking a career change: time is, in fact, a valuable commodity. Prior to undertaking a PM position, an individual must diligently assess their preparedness and appropriateness for the obligations that accompany it. Do you genuinely enjoy the process of product development and its prospective ramifications? Do you possess the requisite proficient communication abilities to effectively engage stakeholders and facilitate the alignment of user requirements with business goals? These factors are crucial and merit thoughtful contemplation prior to embarking on the ever-evolving domain of product management. https://lnkd.in/gSaGwGUz #productledgrowth #productled #productops

Number 1 reason companies are unable to hire PMs easily is there is no fix set of skills which they can evaluate perfectly. Every company is different and so is their need. But I think there are few skills which are universal and can give a hiring manager good confidence if someone can fit well or not as a product manager. Here are the 5 key skills that make someone an effective product manager. 1. Vision 2. Empathy 3. Communication 4. Logical thinking 5. Passion and tenacity These are hard to evaluate (especially 2,5) but if done well can do wonders for the company and product. What do you think I missed in the list? #productmanagement

I have hired 100+ PMs in my career Here is what I think about the chances of a non-PM getting into PM roles. For any PM role, the first preference is for the people who already have that experience. It makes life easier for everyone. However, it does not always work and there are times when there are not good enough candidates to select from. (And this happens more often than you can imagine) Sometimes, The role is not well defined and there is uncertainty around how it will evolve. Many candidates are averse to such roles. Or The salary that is offered doesn't attract the candidates who are a good fit for the role. Or The role requires hands-on experience with a certain technology that's not common - even more for people in traditional PM roles. Or There is some combination of all these factors. In these circumstances, hiring managers start looking beyond traditional PM backgrounds. They try to figure out what is the biggest reason for not finding the right candidates - Let's say it is the knowledge of a certain domain. They then look for candidates who are experts in that domain (and discount the fact that they have never worked in PM roles ) The assessment is then done based on - How good these candidates are in the domain they claim to be. - Are they trainable? Do they have the right skills to be groomed as PMs? - What other proof do we have to build their case - any referrals? side hustles? If you are a non-PM trying to get into PM roles (or anyone trying to make a transition), you need to be excellent at what you have been doing so far. You CAN NOT be both Bad in your current role AND Know nothing about your next role ... and still expect to be hired To pull off a transition you need an undeniable proof of your work. Make sure - You are good in your current role. - You can leverage your current skills in your next role. - Your work is easy to verify through a portfolio or there are people who can vouch for your claim. The transition is possible but you need to put in the reps. Your journey will be different and maybe even more difficult. But it will be worth it. #ProductManagement #JobSearch #CareerTips

In the last 15 years, Software job market in India has seen a growing demand for Product managers. What I observed is a shift in Indian businesses that emphasized on cost efficiency and scale many years ago, transforming and the Product Managers are increasingly focusing on understanding customer pain points, preferences, and behaviors. This shift is fostering a culture of customer-centric product development aligning more with what product managers do globally. In the last 8 to10 years there is a significant growth in the need for Platform PMs. While there is an evolution in the Product Management landscape in India and there is a growing demand, there is talent shortage especially for Platform PMs. While the demand is growing many of the product managers want to stay as generalist PMs. I am wondering what the reasons could be and it will be great to hear from a number of product managers who are part of my network on this. if you are already a Platform PM please reply with what you like about this role.

🚨 78% of high-performing product managers attribute their capacity to recognize and address their own limitations as a key factor in their career growth. In other words, roughly 4 out of 5 of experienced PMs are honest with themselves about what they do and don’t know. But, that doesn’t make it easy for them all to accept. From experience and from at least 2/3s of the product managers I’ve worked with either on the same team or as a mentor, there are 3 things that make dealing with our shortcomings harder than it needs to be. (1) High expectations and pressure 🏔 I’ve found this to be especially true in most U.S. markets, but many product managers are in workplace situations that constantly push the delivery of successful products or features. This comes with high expectations from executives, customers, and other team members. Even if the company touts “a collaborative, great work culture,” it often just adds to a fear of acknowledging any weaknesses or limitations as they are just as often misconstrued as incompetence or negligence. (2) Perfectionism and/or self-criticism ⚖ Some product managers also strive for perfection and set unusually high standards for themselves. But, this often backfires because product management often does not go exactly to plan because of the sheer amount of variables at play leading to an almost limitless amount of potential risks. In an ideal world, yes, we product managers can account for every potential situation and have the perfect plan for the perfect outcome. But, realistically, we do not have limitless time and/or resources at our disposal. (3) Imposter syndrome 🎭 Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter how far along you are in your career – imposter syndrome is no different than the common cold. It will rear its ugly face time and time again. This syndrome often puts us in a bad mindset, one that makes it difficult to accept limitations, especially because it likely will validate existing insecurities and fears around inadequacy. Its origins, at least from what I’ve seen over the years, tend to come from a constant comparing of one’s self to others and/or being put into a role with poorly defined expectations - they could be too vague, too aggressive, or just plain confusing. Have you ever found it difficult to accept your own limitations or shortcomings? What were they and how did you handle it? Or, if they’re still affecting you, what are you doing to get through it? #productmanagement #productmanagers #recognition #influence #strategy #empowerment #careeradvice #careergrowth #careercoaching #mentorship #leadership #selfimprovement #selfawareness #perfectionism #impostersyndrome

Calling all aspiring Product Managers! Feeling the economic squeeze? Same here. Seeing experienced PMs get hit and new roles offering lower positions/salaries? Don't let it stop us! I propose we build something impactful together. No budget, just our time, laptops, and the internet. I have an idea, but yours is welcome too! Let's collaborate and choose the project with the most potential. This isn't a replacement for job hunting, but let's build something valuable while we search. We can learn, grow, and showcase our skills to future employers. If you're up for the challenge, comment below or DM me! Let's get building! #ProductManagement #Project #Saas #LetsBuildTogether

To all the HRs and hiring managers seeking product managers, Everyone deserves a job. It's just a matter of "for how much." However, in today's market, many talented individuals are getting 0 value for enormous skills they possess. On the other hand, companies are constantly searching for smart PMs who are immediately available and fit within budget constraints. To bridge this gap, I've been compiling a database of skilled "Not working PMs" at all levels, eager to make an impact and willing to happily join at less than their last worth, in order to be creating more impact soon. These individuals can be a valuable asset to any employer. Please comment or DM to get the database of such candidates. There are 150+ profiles right now. To the not working PMs at all levels, Experienced product managers with more than a year of experience, whose last working day was before March 1st and are open to salary reduction, are encouraged to fill out the form below. My goal is to connect companies with the most suitable candidates who can provide the best ROI. Please fill out the form if interested: https://lnkd.in/gPgu-WHa Others, Please like and share this post to reach as many not working PMs in need of job opportunities, as well as HRs looking to fill roles and maximize ROI. Together, let's ensure everyone has access to the opportunities they deserve. #ProductManagement #JobOpportunities Edit 1 - Thanks for the overwhelming responses. I have shared the profiles with some of the HRs, who are finding it useful. Wishing everyone all the best

I've been working with a growing number of clients the last few months who are switching to and growing as PMs. The feedback has been heartwarming, but the RESULTS have me excited! Some of my clients are focused on landing their next role, either to transition from one company to another or moving from no job to the next step on the career path to becoming world-class PMs. Some are taking their PM craft to the next level. In just the last two months, multiple clients have received offers (some more than 1 offer!), some are progressing towards transforming the ways of working at their company, and some are on their way to increasing their earnings significantly compared to where they were just a few months ago. I can't take all the credit, though, they are doing a lot of the work after all! It was hard to imagine where I would be halfway through this year just a few months ago, but the number of connections I've made, the results my clients have achieved, as well as the energy and positive feelings I get from it all--truly amazing. If you've met me in person, I hope you feel that energy! And it all started with a simple change to how I start many of the conversations with people I meet: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪? I've got a lot more I'm working on to help even more people achieve even greater results. I can't wait to share details about it. Stay tuned 🙏🏻 --- Are you looking to up-level in your Product Management career? I help people just like you. I've been there, and I truly care about helping to bring clarity to career goals, as well as support you on the path to get there (and faster!). Check out the testimonials from the people I've worked with as proof. Send me a message if you want to chat more. 💙