5 Product Management Lessons from Real Product Managers

What skills should a product manager learn? Data-driven product management

6 min readNov 13, 2023

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Lesson 1: Obsess over your users.

As a product manager, your users should be at the centre of everything you do. This means understanding their needs, wants, and pain points inside and out. It also means constantly collecting feedback and using it to improve your product.

Here are some specific ways to obsess over your users:

Conduct regular user interviews and surveys: This is one of the best ways to get direct feedback from your users and learn about their experiences with your product. Be sure to ask open-ended questions and listen carefully to their responses.
Analyze user data: This can include data on things like website traffic, user engagement, and customer support tickets. By analyzing user data, you can identify trends and patterns that can help you understand how users are interacting with your product and where there are areas for improvement.
Spend time observing users interacting with your product in the real world: This can help you get a better understanding of how users are using your product in their everyday lives and what challenges they are facing. For example, you could visit a retail store to see how customers are interacting with your product on the shelf, or you could go to a coffee shop to see how people are using your mobile app while they are on the go.
Talk to your customer support team: Your customer support team is on the front lines of dealing with user issues and problems. They can provide you with valuable insights into the most common user complaints and pain points.
Create user personas: User personas are fictional representations of your ideal users. They can help you keep your users top of your mind when making decisions about your product. To create user personas, you can use the information you’ve gathered from user interviews, surveys, and other research.

Lesson 2: Be data-driven.

In today’s world, there’s no excuse for making product decisions based on gut instinct alone. Product managers need to be able to use data to inform their decisions and measure the success of their initiatives.

Here are some specific tips for being more data-driven:

Set clear goals and metrics for your product:
What do you want your product to achieve? What are the key indicators of success? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can start to collect data to track your progress.
Collect data on how users are interacting with your product:
This can include data on things like website traffic, user engagement, and customer support tickets. You can also use tools like analytics software to track user behavior on your website or app.
Use data to track your progress towards your goals and identify areas for improvement:
For example, you could track website traffic to see if a new marketing campaign is driving more visitors to your site. Or, you could track user engagement to see if a new feature is being used by users.
Experiment with different features and strategies and use data to measure the results:
This is known as A/B testing. For example, you could create two different versions of a landing page and show them to different users to see which version performs better.
Be open to changing course if the data shows that your original plan isn’t working:
Don’t be afraid to pivot if necessary. The most important thing is to use data to make informed decisions about your product.

Lesson 3: Be able to say no.

One of the hardest things for product managers to learn is how to say no. After all, you want to be able to deliver on your users’ needs and wants. But it’s important to remember that you can’t do everything.

Here are some tips for saying no:

Be clear about your priorities:
What are the most important things for you to focus on? Once you know your priorities, you can start to say no to requests that fall outside of those priorities.
Be able to articulate the trade-offs:
Why are you saying no to this particular feature or request? What are the potential consequences of saying no? By being able to articulate the trade-offs, you can help others understand why you are making the decision that you are.
Be open to feedback:
Listen to the concerns of the people who are asking for the feature or request. Try to understand why it is important to them.
Be willing to compromise:
If there’s a way to meet some of the person’s needs without sacrificing your priorities, then try to do so. For example, if someone is asking for a new feature, you could see if there is a way to implement a smaller version of the feature that would be less

Lesson 4: Be adaptable and resilient.

The world of product management is constantly changing. New technologies emerge, user needs evolve, and the competitive landscape shifts. Product managers need to be able to adapt quickly to these changes and be resilient in the face of setbacks.

Here are some tips for being adaptable and resilient:

Be open to new ideas and approaches:
Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. The best way to learn and grow is by trying new things and seeing what works.
Be willing to admit when you’re wrong:
If something isn’t working, be willing to change course. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.
Learn from your mistakes:
Don’t dwell on the past. Instead, focus on learning from your mistakes and moving forward. Think about what you could have done differently and try to avoid making the same mistake in the future.
Build a support network:
Surround yourself with people who can offer you guidance and support. This could include other product managers, mentors, or colleagues. Having a support network can help you stay motivated and focused, even when things are tough.

Lesson 5: Be a great communicator.

Product managers need to be able to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including users, engineers, designers, and executives. They need to be able to clearly articulate their vision for the product, explain the rationale for their decisions, and build consensus among stakeholders.

Here are some tips for being a great communicator:

Be clear and concise:
Use plain language and avoid jargon. Tailor your communication style to your audience.
Be organized and logical:
Present your ideas in a way that is easy to understand and follow.
Be persuasive:
Be able to articulate the benefits of your ideas and why they are worth investing in.
Be a good listener:
Be open to hearing the feedback of others and be willing to change your mind if necessary.

Product management is a complex and challenging role, but it is also gratifying. Following these five life lessons can set you up for success in this exciting field.

Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes. Everyone does. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Never stop obsessing over your users and being data-driven. And always be adaptable, resilient, and a great communicator.

Here are some additional tips for product managers:

Build relationships with other product managers: This can be a great way to learn from others, share ideas, and get support.
Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies: The product management landscape is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay informed about the latest trends and technologies. This will help you make better decisions for your product and stay ahead of the competition.
Don’t be afraid to take risks: The best product managers are willing to take risks and try new things. If you’re unwilling to take risks, you’ll never be able to innovate and create truly great products.
Have fun! Product management can be a challenging but rewarding job. Make sure to enjoy the process and have fun along the way.

I hope these tips are helpful. Good luck on your product management journey!

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