Parables from the Feature Factory

Hey, who hasn’t prayed to Marty for guidance?/ Credit: Creative Commons, Marty’s book, and Marty’s Twitter pic.

As a Product Manager,
I constantly read what makes me insecure,
so that I can feed my imposter syndrome baby,
Amen.

Product Management is role of uncertainty. Imposter syndrome, imperfect information fueling decisions, or immeasurable impact analysis. Even with the best intentions and effort, this heady brew can foster a Product Manager’s existential dread. Do any of these sound familiar?

• Is my work actually making an impact?
• Am I even a real Product Manager or just a glorified Project Manager?
• My competitor’s product is so much better…

Marty Cagan’s Product Management ideal has not become my reality. I fall into Melissa Perri’s build trap week-over-week. And my black box of Product Management sure doesn’t look like Brandon Chu’s.

So…I am just mediocre?

Is this a toxic relationship?

I have a love-hate relationship with the Product Management blogosphere, the business books. A new framework can inspire me on good days. That bold perspective can lead to positive introspection. Yet these long lists of idealistic methods can also fuel rampant insecurity on the bad days.

My personalized product feed fuels a the narrative. I should be more strategic. My team is never motivated enough. I need to try harder. Ignorance would be bliss! Ask yourself: is this motivation or just punishment?

That leads me to think: Am I just a Feature Factory Manager? Agile-Bastardization Expert? Backlog Fog Guru? Shouting myself hoarse “that’s not feasible” to a thankless audience…

These features aren’t going to build themselves! / Credit from Digital Surgeons here.

I know what autonomy is. I have heard of masterful product discovery. Empowered teams sound great. And I can imagine striving for outcomes and achieving the grand vision. We have all had seen those (or at least can imagine) those flickering sparks of brilliance.

So what’s the recourse for the individual contributors out there? What do you do when you feel doubly powerless Product Manager given the role and the organization? How do you stay sane?

You are not your job

• Avoid becoming over-invested
• It’s not your “baby”
• The organization is not you
• Still own the bad and shower your team with praise
• But now that you are so much more than your job performance

“Nothing better than a biz book beach read, amirite?” / Credit: Depositphotos

Life is more than a career

• While business books might be your ideal beach read, don’t let Product Management become your life
• Product Management will suck up a huge amount of your time
• Marty (we are on a first name basis) says a minimum of 60 hours/week, not even factoring in staying apprised to the latest tech or needed skills
• Yet remind yourself the meaning of life is not becoming a better PM
• But please find out what is meaningful to you

Find your motivators

• Is reading about the perfect FAANG processes actually helping you?
• What makes you a bright and cheery Product Manager?
• What provokes you to be a better person?
• Focus and constantly remind yourself of what energizes you, and the rest will follow

Don’t get me wrong, Product Management is a wonderful career. It sure beats out what I used to do. At its worst, Product Management still keeps you busy. And there is always, no matter the situation, some semblance of autonomy given in the role.

It’s always healthy to strive for better. You can graduate from the Feature Factory floor. You can find your Product Management voice. And you can make an awesome impact.

But just make sure that aren’t leaving you behind in the process.

Be like a happy Sisyphus…kind of? / Credit: AgileLeanLife.com