My day starts typically with my South Indian coffee. Admittedly coffee is my addiction — and I sit and enjoy it in peace.
I take a moment to glance at my phone, choosing not to read all the messages. Embracing the “stay away from the phone for one hour” rule brings me a sense of calm. With the kids off to school, I savor half an hour with my coffee, followed by a short but soothing meditation routine.
However, the broader Product Management community often presents a different perspective. By this time in the morning, I should have absorbed and caught up on the latest insights from leading influencers.
Typically, they proclaim certain trends obsolete — such as “Personas are dead” or “Roadmaps are dead.” These news cycles can stir anxiety about striving to get work done without a roadmap, prompting a hurried dive into articles to grasp the latest alternatives. What was in vogue yesterday may be deemed outdated today.
We’re often encouraged to listen to a few podcasts and absorb all the latest in Product Management before finishing our coffee. I’ve heard several leaders mention they listen to podcasts while running, but I’d argue that this distraction can be a safety concern. Exercise should be a mindful and meditative experience.
With the rise of AI, the surge of information feels even more overwhelming. The fear of missing out drives many to enroll in AI training or engage in various analyses. I’ve experienced this FOMO myself recently.
On top of this, there’s the constant pressure for Product Managers (PM) to deliver impactful outcomes that enhance the business’s bottom line. As one of the few truly multidisciplinary roles, it demands expertise across various domains.
These are indeed challenging and crazy times!
We often overlook a crucial aspect of the Product Manager’s role: innovation and creativity. In our information-saturated world, dominated by social media and other channels, the frantic pace leaves little room for creativity to flourish.
Here are some methods I believe every Product Mananger (PM) should incorporate into their routine:
Embrace Tech-Free Days: Dedicate a day or two to disconnect from technology, except for work-related tasks. Use this time to enjoy Netflix or engage with your children, if you have them.
Engage in Conversations: Talk with family members, especially those who aren’t tech-savvy, like your mom. These interactions can subconsciously enhance your thinking for work projects.
Cultivate Curiosity: Approach everyday experiences with childlike wonder. For example, consider how your grocery store manages inventory and staffing. Engage with employees to learn about their logistics — there’s always someone willing to chat.
Pursue Your Passions: Spend time on activities you love, whether it’s cooking, exercising (without distractions), or other hobbies.
Set Weekly Learning Goals: Focus on understanding trends in Product Management by setting manageable weekly goals, avoiding the stress of daily targets.
Establish Monthly Reviews: Evaluate an app or website you love each month. Reflect on its strengths and weaknesses from a Product Management perspective, and document your insights.
Foster Creativity: It’s vital to prevent Product Managers from becoming overly mechanistic. Companies must nurture creativity and innovation, sharing responsibility for employee well-being to boost motivation and idea generation.
Create Supportive Environments: Encourage employees to share creative ideas without judgment. Document these suggestions for future consideration.
Prioritize Creativity: Regularly incorporate innovative ideas from the backlog to inspire Product Managers and cultivate a culture of innovation.
Organize Workshops: Invite external experts to lead creative thinking workshops, offering new perspectives and methodologies to inspire fresh ideas.
Establish Idea Exchanges: Organize events like Demo Days for employees to showcase recent projects, promoting creativity and collaboration across the organization.
Dedicate Creative Time: Implement initiatives like Product Skill Builder sessions, where employees pitch new ideas to leadership, fostering exploration and innovation.
Promote Collaboration: Avoid making creativity a competition. Instead, celebrate everyone’s contributions equally, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment where all ideas are valued.
