4 Things I learned from top Product Managers
During the summer of 2017, I interned with one of the Product Management teams at Moody’s Analytics. I was really excited about this opportunity not just because this was a step towards a career that I had always dreamed about, but also because this internship was based out of San Francisco. Now, who would want to miss out on such a wonderful experience?!
I started off my first week feeling like this:
Couple of weeks later, I was like this:
My internship spanned over a period of 10 weeks. During this time, I worked on different aspects of Product Management, right from Strategy to Product Marketing to Research and Analysis. I was determined to make the best use of this time — I wanted to learn as much as I can and contribute meaningful work that will create value for the team.
But in a couple of weeks, I felt drained. I was new to the credit risk management space and I found it difficult to understand the regulations and the modeling methodology used in the products. I spent countless hours doing research in my personal time to understand key terms and players in the industry. I felt like I was not making enough progress and I had even started to question my capabilities. But watching some of the best Product Managers at work taught me few things that changed the way I approached my work. These are in no way related to product management or finance. Here are those 4 things:
1. Hustle and Hustle hard
By hustling, I mean doing whatever is required and going all out for it; even if it takes a long time and drains all of your energy. It is the differentiating factor between a person who works for money and a person who has a vision — a goal, that inspires him/her and, in the process, changes him/her for the better. When something goes wrong (and something will go wrong!), brush it aside, make necessary corrections and move forward. I saw the Product Managers at Moody’s hustle a lot. They knew what their end goal was and were ready to do whatever it takes to achieve it.
2. Fail fast. Learn faster (and oh, ask for help!)
We all know the maxim — ‘failures are the stepping stones to success’. Failure is our greatest teacher. But I’d like to emphasize the word ‘fast’ here. The faster you fail, the faster you learn, and the faster you succeed.
During the first couple of weeks, my entire focus was on giving great results. I was so obsessed with perfection that I failed to do something elemental — sharing progress and asking for help. I was worried that I would look stupid if I asked my doubts. I did not share my progress with anyone as I always felt my work was incomplete. This proved to be the root cause of my initial struggles. A very good friend pushed me to seek help. And when I did that, I was able to get things done much faster. My manager directed me to Subject Matter Experts for additional guidance and I also got great feedback on how to improve my deliverables. It also turned out that none of my questions were considered stupid!
3. It’s all in the details
One thing that really amused me about the Product Managers at Moody’s was their obsession with details. If they did not know what it was, they never hesitated to ask the right SME and learn from him/her. This obsession ensured quality in the products. The more time I spent on all the nitty-gritty details, the better I understood the products and its customers. This had a tremendous positive impact on my final suggestions and deliverables.
4. Bring donuts!
I have not yet met a person who does not like donuts! (other than fitness-enthusiasts, who also happen to like donuts but just force themselves not to eat them — PS -please tell me where you get that determination!)
So bring donuts to work, or bring whatever your team likes! The logic is simple: everyone likes food and so everyone likes the person who brings food! Although this can be seen as a trick to get popular at work, my intention here is to use these as a way to show your support and appreciation for your team. There is nothing better than a little treat to start/end the week on a positive note; a delightful indulgence during a day filled with meetings and deadlines. We spend most of our time at work; why not make it a happy place?
As I wrapped up my final presentation and joined my team for a farewell party, I realized that these are not just some skills required to be a successful Product Manager. Rather, these are personal attributes that will pave the path to a successful and meaningful career, whatever it may be!
So now, what do I do?
Please do share your thoughts.. :)
