Julie Zhuo on accelerating your career, impostor syndrome, writing, building product sense, using intuition vs. data, hiring designers, and moving into management
with Julie Zhuo · Jun 2022
When leaders share what they find hard and what they're struggling with, it forms deeper connections and allows teams to collectively solve problems better. You don't have to have all the answers; by sharing the load and putting heads together, you arrive at better solutions than you would alone.
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Julie Zhuo on accelerating your career, impostor syndrome, writing, building product sense, using intuition vs. data, hiring designers, and moving into management
Jun 2022Early in her career, Julie tried to 'fake it until she made it,' but realized she was preventing herself from getting support, empathy, and advice that would have helped her grow faster. Asking for help—from peers, mentors, or people ahead of you—is not a weakness but a tool that accelerates learning and deepens connections.
What Buddhism Taught Me About Product Management
Jun 2019The illusion that you can reach a state where all problems are solved is the root of team suffering. Instead, accept that fires will always burn and people will always get upset. Find your fulfillment in the act of solving problems, not in the fantasy of a problem-free state.
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 my coach challenged me to say yes to everything for two weeks, I realized my defensive 'no' mindset was preventing real collaboration. I learned that even if someone's proposed solution isn't ideal, the problem they're identifying is probably real—and their idea is a way of surfacing that problem worth exploring together.
What Buddhism Taught Me About Product Management
Jun 2019The most effective leaders—what Jim Collins calls Level 5 Leaders—have ambition first and foremost for the organization and its purpose, not themselves. When you deflect credit and give opportunities to team members, the team's efficacy actually strengthens.
The Power of Performance Reviews: Use This System to Become a Better Manager 🤝
Jul 2019An individual will have just as much impact (if not more) on an organization if they flex what they are really good at, instead of just trying to improve on areas they're struggling with. Research shows focusing on strengths is much more effective than obsessing over weaknesses.
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