Michael Simons’ Post

And this is how i became a Product Manager and a Developer at the same time.

If I could start my journey again... I would only focus on three things • Find "why" users love/hate a product • Focus on finding the right problems • Learn to simplify complex topics These 3 qualities are the biggest catalysts to career growth as a product manager.

There is a difference between hearing and listening. When you can truly hone into the skill of listening, you evolve as a Product Manager.

A product manager is important, but they're just one part of the team. It's important to remember that a product manager can't do their job without the designers, engineers, and other people on the team. They're all in it together. Here's why I think that: * Collaboration is key: Product managers need to work with everyone on the team and make sure that everyone's ideas are heard. * Shared vision: The product vision should be something that everyone on the team understands and agrees with. It's not just the product manager's vision. * Mutual respect: Everyone on the team has something to contribute, and their opinions should be respected. * Effective communication: The team needs to be able to talk to each other openly and honestly. If you want to talk about any specific challenges or situations related to this, I'm happy to help.

I am working as an Associate Product manager in a company !!....I am planning to do a course of Product Space as PM Fellow.What do you think it's worth It or not ...??? Share Your thoughts in the comment Box

You can tell a product manager’s seniority by how they deal with problems. Find your current level on this list, then see what you need to do to level up. Level 1: Just ignore the problem and hope it doesn't come back to bite you in the ass. Level 2: “Colleagues, we've got a problem.” Level 3: “We've got a problem. We can do X, Y or Z.” Level 4: “We've got a problem. We can do X, Y and Z but X is best.” Level 5: “We've got a problem. We can do X, Y and Z but X is best because…” Level 6: “We've got a problem. X is the best solution because… and I'm already doing it!“ God Mode Level: "I am the problem."

You have to learn to speak up! When I landed my first product management role, I thought I had it all together. I was efficient, on top of my deliverables, and even earned praise from the CEO for my work ethic. I was given more responsibilities, but despite all that, I still felt like I was missing something. I wasn’t speaking up for the product. Not once. There were moments when the CEO would push for features that didn’t align with the product vision or, worse, were damaging to the user experience. I knew those decisions weren’t right, but I stayed silent—fearful, and thinking it wasn’t my place. Big mistake. ❌ The feature was launched, users voiced their dissatisfaction, and I took the blame. All because I didn’t speak up when I should have. I’ve learned a valuable lesson since then. To my fellow product managers, especially those just starting out—your job is to advocate for the product. You’re there to represent the users, balance business needs, and protect the integrity of your team and product. If you’re not doing that, no matter how efficient or hardworking you are, it can all fall apart. Learn from my mistake, and always speak up. ❤️

Impopular opinion: if you require previous experience as product manager in a specific area, chances are you’re not really looking for a proper product manager and may be missing other role or expertise instead, and you’re just expecting a product manager also to take care of it.

How does a Senior Product Manager go from layoff to landing a Staff Product Manager role with a significant compensation increase? Join us as we chat with Nora Hughes, a seasoned product manager with a decade of experience in the tech industry. Nora shares her journey from being laid off in October to navigating the challenging job market. She talks about her initial struggles, including the overwhelm of job searching during the holidays, dealing with COVID-19, and the loneliness that came with it. Nora discusses how she discovered the Intentional Job Search (IJS) program and her thought process before joining. She highlights the program's structure and quality and how it helped her regain focus, prioritize effectively, and build confidence in her job search strategy. In this candid conversation, Nora also reveals her aha moments, including the value of peer interviews and the comprehensive support from the IJS community. She explains how the program's personalized coaching and strategic guidance were pivotal in helping her land a dream role as a Staff Product Manager in AI and ML at a large public company, achieving a significant pay raise and working alongside best-in-class professionals. If you're curious about how the IJS program can transform your job search and career trajectory, this video is a must-watch. Nora's story is a testament to the power of structured support and intentional effort in achieving career success. Key Moments in this Episode ======================== 00:00 - About Nora 01:00 - Challenges before IJS 02:45 - How Nora decided to join the program 07:30 - Nora's experience in IJS 17:30 - Negotiations 20:00 - Her message for you https://lnkd.in/eHEBAxpQ

On my last post of 2023 I brought up a sentence that I like to use in my day to day as a product manager "Comply and Complain" 🧐 😤 While it might seem that I'm asking you to do whatever you're told while complaining about it, this sentence means (to me) much more than that 😁 Many times when we join an organization as a Product Manager, we see many different things that could be done in a better way or at least in different ways. While our intentions might be good, trying to change it all might cause a lot of friction which will eventually reduce even further the speed and the openness to making the changes you want to implement. That's why I like to "comply and complain", this means that you "Comply" with what is currently being done, while you understand the WHY behind it. With the WHY in your hand you can then show the true value of the change you wish to implement enabling you to "Complain" with a stronger position to apply changes, reduce friction and most importantly add value to the ones around you! That's why I like the term "comply and complain", it's catchy, it usually triggers nice conversations and it's simple enough to be explained over a coffee ☕ Have you ever "complied and complained"? And do you have any expressions you enjoy using in your day to day like this? 😉