THE ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD PRODUCT

MANAGER

Nader Balata
Product Manager @Unilytics
twitter.com/NaderBalata
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nbalata@gmail.com

THE FIVE PILLARS OF A GOOD PRODUCT

MANAGER

1.

Creator/Builder

2.

Intellectually curious

3.

Problem solver

4.

Collaborator

5.

Improver

CREATOR/BUILDER
A good PM needs to have a creators instincts. Do any of these apply to you:

You have a lot of worthwhile ideas

You derive satisfaction from building something rather than implementing
someone elses plan or idea
You strive to be original or standout
You believe in yourself to take calculated risks
You are entrepreneurial
You are a divergent thinker
You are inspired
Influential

Now discover a product that is useful, usable, and feasible!

INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS
Foundational to product management is resonating with these types of
questions/statements:

Hmm, I wonder why this [business process or product] isnt

attaining its desired effect?

I am noticing that this type of customer is really happy with our

[service or product]. What do you they have in common and how
do we duplicate that?

Wow, this is a huge deficiency/gap in the marketplace. Lets plug it.

With this [research] I know I can unite marketing, sales and

technology on my vision.

If we developed this product wed be industry leaders.

Money never starts an idea. It is always the idea that starts the money. ~Owen
Laughlin

PROBLEM SOLVER
You have a knack for turning problems into solutions.

Have you uncovered a quicker way to work by testing different routes?

Have you realized a way to organize your closet to maximize space?
Have you figured out a way to beat your buddy in tennis after a long losing
streak?
Are you one of those rare employees that identify inefficiencies at work and a
way to solve them?
Do you recognize patterns, see the whole picture and grasp solutions with only
a few pieces?
Are you good at puzzles?

My guess? You are very analytical!

COLLABORATOR
If you are a collaborator then youre energetic, an excellent communicator and team player.

You can influence people of your ideas. You can unify internal stakeholders on your vision.

You are a part-marketer, part-technologist, part-sales person

You are a Master of Ceremonies in the boardroom; able to control and direct the dialogue on its
intended course, while ensuring that all voices are heard.

You know how to empower people - you can draw gems from even the shyest, least confident
person in your meetings.

Even though you are trying to convince others, you do this under the veil of exchanging ideas
rather than dictating.

Your constituents leave meetings feeling like they are significant contributors and valuable to the
process.

Customers greatly appreciate that you are making an investment in them. How? Because you seek
product feedback; you call them and see how your product is saving them money and performing
its desired purpose; you implement their feedback in your product redevelopment.

You understand that strategies are cross-functional initiatives. It is one piece of a bigger puzzle.
Without the buy-in from each and every business function, your plans run the risk of not meeting
their objective.
***Your developers like you because they are working on a satisfying projects; marketing is happy as your ideas are turning into
leads for the company; you are the best friend of sales as they are making good $; management has their eye on you!

IMPROVER
A key ingredient to the product management lifecycle is improving and enhancing. It
starts with customer feedback.

You need to know why your customers chose you instead of your competitor

How has this saved them money?

How does this save them time? What would they have done instead?

What aspects of the product would they change? This will be valuable for
engineering to address ahead of next release.

Drawing on feedback you can be effective at partnering with engineering on

timelines for bug fixes, UI improvements, release candidates and support.

With good feedback, marketing understands how to position products, how to write
brochures, where to acquire leads, what social channels to exploit.

You can use your new learning to educate sales on the unique advantages of your
products, why you are better than your competitor, and who your ideal audience is.

IMAGINE, CREATE, INSPIRE, ENHANCE

Good Luck!

I welcome all feedback and questions

twitter.com/NaderBalata
Naderbalata.tumblr.com
nbalata@gmail.com