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How to get into product management

Jun 2019

Execution skill alone has surprising value

A PM who is good at nothing else but execution is valuable to a team, while a team with a PM that can't execute is better off without that PM. Shipping beats strategy when forced to choose.
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PMs are the hedge against indecision

Teams look to the PM to help reach decisions. The PM's job isn't to make every decision, but to ensure a decision gets made—whether by themselves, their team, or stakeholders. Indecision is the real enemy.

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PMs have responsibility without authority

Product managers hold disproportionate influence over key decisions yet lack direct authority over their teams. Success requires building trust, making decisive calls, and helping everyone do their best work—not through command, but through influence and credibility.

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The 'I got this' aura compounds career growth

One of the most underrated traits for PMs is the ability to project confidence through preparation and follow-through. When you consistently say what you'll do and then do it exceptionally well, quality and pace improve dramatically around you.

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Experience beats credentials for PM advancement

When hiring for lead PM or director roles, nothing beats experience doing the actual job. An MBA is rarely worth it if you already have a PM position—there are better ways to accelerate your career through mentorship, working on diverse products, and switching to stronger teams.

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