37 Skills Outstanding Product Managers Share

A comprehensive guide to clarify the skills PMs need to stand out

Be Careful! There’s Much Noise Out There!

Frameworks. Frameworks. Frameworks.

More frameworks won’t help you rock the world.

I always get the same question: Which is the best product framework? Which Agile framework should I use? Wrong questions. Sorry.

It’s not about the framework. It’s about creating value while adapting to your challenges. Creating digital products is anything but trivial.

Here are the five characteristics PMs need to thrive:

1. Leadership → It’s all about leading, not managing
2. Communication → Knowing how to exchange and create value out of it is key
3. Teamwork → Collaboration with multiple teams is mandatory
4. Product Management → Knowing the core aspects of creating products is vital
5. Techniques → Creating a Swiss knife and knowing when to use what is handy

Rocking as a Product Manager by David Pereira

1. Leadership

Great product managers are inspiring leaders, not boring managers. Success is a dream until one learns how to inspire others to act and lead by context.

The exciting aspect of leadership for PMs is the lack of mandate. You don’t lead because you’re the boss; you lead because you set the direction for the product and inspire others to dream of a brighter future.

My biggest inspiration for leadership is Simon Sinek. He says:

A great leader isn’t the one who comes up with all the great ideas but the one who creates the space where great ideas can happen.

2. Communication

Knowing what to communicate, when to whom, and how is mandatory for PMs. Communication is nothing like one size fits all. It requires tailoring it according to your audience and message.

On top of that, the secret is creating clarity with communication and not confusion. Great PMs master the art of asking questions and helping others…