This Week #1: Must reads on growth, what PMs should focus on when joining a new team, and the value of an MBA
Sep 2019
A new PM joining a team is like a new roommate moving in—people are skeptical and wondering if they can trust you with the keys. Spend your first 30 days building trust through questions and quick wins, your next 30 improving execution, and only then develop your strategic point of view. Strategy without trust is dead on arrival.
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This Week #1: Must reads on growth, what PMs should focus on when joining a new team, and the value of an MBA
Sep 2019Find 2-3 quick wins in your first 30 days that make the lives of the team better—unblocking a blocker, resolving a lingering decision, or improving an annoying process. Small, visible improvements establish you as someone who delivers before you attempt to reshape strategy.
Jackie Bavaro on getting better at product strategy, what exactly is strategy, PM pitfalls to avoid, advancing your career, getting into management, and much more
Jun 2022New PMs should focus their first six months on customer research, product learning, and executing existing strategy. Only after six months should you draft your own strategy—and even then, start with a half-day of focused writing to get ideas out, then iterate with your product triad.
This Week #1: Must reads on growth, what PMs should focus on when joining a new team, and the value of an MBA
Sep 2019Even though you've interviewed someone and done extensive reference checks, you're still a little skeptical, not sure you want to trust them with the keys to the house. This metaphor captures why new team members must earn trust through actions before they can drive change.
This Week #0: Advice on growth, product, and leadership
Sep 2019If you ask anyone on your team what your strategy is, would they be able to explain it? If not, your strategy isn't clear enough. A strategy that only lives in the PM's head isn't a strategy—it's a secret.
This Week #1: Must reads on growth, what PMs should focus on when joining a new team, and the value of an MBA
Sep 2019Before developing strategy, ensure everyone knows what they should be doing, unnecessary meetings are eliminated, blockers are addressed quickly, and deadlines are clear. You can't build a compelling vision on top of a chaotic foundation.
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