How to stay motivated as a Product Manager 🔥 | by Kasey Fu | Mar, 2024
It’s not always easy to stay motivated as a product manager (PM)— so let’s learn how we can sustain it for the long-run 🏃!
With the product management discipline growing more popular than ever, there’s little reason to argue against its growth. More organizations across both tech and non-tech environments are seeking strong PMs to help manage stakeholders, drive product success, and own responsibility for the roadmap. It’s both a lucrative and inspiring role that shines a spotlight on somone in a way no other job can.
PMs are always expected to demonstrate strong energy from the get-go after they join a team; if the product and problem space is a good fit, they’re naturally inclined to demonstrate a strong motivating drive.
It’s not difficult for great product managers to feel energized about their work, especially in the face of success. But that’s not always the case; some PMs lose some of that motivation after a while due to many factors, so instead of pin pointing on the causes, let’s dig into four suggestions to ensure the spark is never lost.
Product management by nature involves building relationships with a multitude of parties. Imagine a single person having to empathize with so many different individuals and dependencies; it’s no wonder PMs are known as perennial stakeholder managers with seemingly infinite energy.
But while engaging with all parties can appear important, PMs must focus their energy on the engagement they have with their closest functions. These most likely consist of your main developers, engineering manager, boss, designer, and marketer.
Strong engagement doesn’t just mean clear and constant communication. It also entails a sense of trust that underpins the relationship you have with each of them. For example, if an executive or an external customer asked for a feature that your team deems unfeasible, your developers shouldn’t be afraid to raise this with you privately or in a group setting. The PM should also feel comfortable enough to ask stupid questions, such as “Why?” and “Here are some alternatives, what do you think?” and continue the conversation in an…
