A Product Manager's biggest strength and challenge is the ability to influence. As a PM, you need to be able to get work done from folks that do not report to you like engineers, developers, sales and marketing. You need to possess the ability to hold people accountable without real authority over them. You have to indirectly control them through influence.
So how do you influence :
1. Work towards the same goal : meeting customer needs. All employees are working to satisfy customer needs, remind them of this ultimate business goal.
2. Improve the process that shows how time and cost efficient we can be as team
3. Build a personal relationship, make the team like and understand you. Congratulate them on a big release, applaud their efforts in front of the team.
4. Provide an impact scenario; if we don't deliver on time, we are losing a major customer. Make them realize that they are working for a greater cause. Most engineers never get insight into the big picture. By exposing them to a real world problem solved by their solution motivates and makes them understand the gravity of the situation. Instill reality, make them feel accountable and responsible.
It's all about the power to influence, to motivate and to inspire. And this influences, motivates and inspires me to wake up and go to work everyday and build a world class product with an amazing team.
So how do you influence :
1. Work towards the same goal : meeting customer needs. All employees are working to satisfy customer needs, remind them of this ultimate business goal.
2. Improve the process that shows how time and cost efficient we can be as team
3. Build a personal relationship, make the team like and understand you. Congratulate them on a big release, applaud their efforts in front of the team.
4. Provide an impact scenario; if we don't deliver on time, we are losing a major customer. Make them realize that they are working for a greater cause. Most engineers never get insight into the big picture. By exposing them to a real world problem solved by their solution motivates and makes them understand the gravity of the situation. Instill reality, make them feel accountable and responsible.
It's all about the power to influence, to motivate and to inspire. And this influences, motivates and inspires me to wake up and go to work everyday and build a world class product with an amazing team.
