How to get into product management
Jun 2019
A good strategy is a set of actions that is credible, coherent, and focused on overcoming the biggest hurdles in achieving an objective. Strategy without execution is just planning; execution without strategy is just activity.
Related
Ideas from across Lenny's archive that connect to this one
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 2022A complete strategy requires: (1) Vision—an inspiring picture of the future; (2) Strategic Framework—the market, success definition, and big bets to win it; (3) Roadmap—working backward from vision to validate feasibility. Most strategies fail because they're missing one of these three elements, making them incomplete regardless of how polished they seem.
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.
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 #0: Advice on growth, product, and leadership
Sep 2019When your team is humming, work your way up from execution (blockers, processes, goals) to strategy (clarity, boldness) to vision (North Star, purpose). Each level builds on the last, and most PMs skip steps by jumping to vision without solid execution.
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 2022When executives say 'increase revenue by 50%,' that's a goal, not a strategy. A PM's job is to connect that target to specific product work by identifying which features best match the business goal and explaining why—filling in all the missing dots between high-level objective and tactical execution.
Import your highlights, and we'll find the connections you've been missing.