Breaking into PM is difficult, especially now.
And it's extremely difficult to break into the right organization.
There are 6 red flags you can find in job offers:
And it's extremely difficult to break into the right organization.
There are 6 red flags you can find in job offers:
1. Multitasking
Multitasking is a myth.
According to the research presented by Gerald M. Weinberg, each additional project or task is a loss of ~20% of productivity. When we add a third project, context switching consumes almost 50% of the effort.
Multitasking is a myth.
According to the research presented by Gerald M. Weinberg, each additional project or task is a loss of ~20% of productivity. When we add a third project, context switching consumes almost 50% of the effort.
Focus on what's the most important and eliminate or delegate everything else.
Single-threaded, cross-functional teams are also one of the secrets of Amazon's success.
Single-threaded, cross-functional teams are also one of the secrets of Amazon's success.
2. Resources
How is it possible that in the 21st century, people are still so commonly referred to as โresourcesโ?
People will not work the same way, being moved from place to place or working overtime.
How is it possible that in the 21st century, people are still so commonly referred to as โresourcesโ?
People will not work the same way, being moved from place to place or working overtime.
They are not tools that you can use however you like. They also have dreams and ambitions.
People are not resources.
They are skilled professionals.
People are not resources.
They are skilled professionals.
3. Project/schedule
A project mindset involves:
- Assigning tasks to team members
- Pushing instead of letting others pull the work
- Emphasis on predefined outputs and scope
- Detailed roadmaps and schedules
- Constantly asking about the progress
- Pursuing 100% utilization
A project mindset involves:
- Assigning tasks to team members
- Pushing instead of letting others pull the work
- Emphasis on predefined outputs and scope
- Detailed roadmaps and schedules
- Constantly asking about the progress
- Pursuing 100% utilization
Great product managers collaborate, inspire, show their trust, and understand that working on a product is complex.
They embrace the unknown and encourage experimentation.
They embrace the unknown and encourage experimentation.
4. Customer proxy
Have you heard about the product death cycle trap?
It happens when the product manager forgets about the "Why" and becomes a waiter. There is no vision or strategy. To please everyone, PM collects and waterfalls all the requirements to the team.
Have you heard about the product death cycle trap?
It happens when the product manager forgets about the "Why" and becomes a waiter. There is no vision or strategy. To please everyone, PM collects and waterfalls all the requirements to the team.
Although customers know where they are in pain, they cannot design a solution. Those features do not solve anyone's problems and do not drive the expected business results.
The cycle repeats itself.
The cycle repeats itself.
5. Execution
According to Roger Martin (Playing to Wing), Strategy vs. Execution is a myth. Everyone in the organization needs to make strategic choices.
According to Roger Martin (Playing to Wing), Strategy vs. Execution is a myth. Everyone in the organization needs to make strategic choices.
The linchpin of empowerment is giving teams problems and holding them accountable for the outcomes. This enables intrinsic motivation and a sense of ownership and lets them innovate and respond to what can't be predicted.
They need a team-level strategy.
They need a team-level strategy.
6. SAFe
Every time I see SAFe's diagrams, something dies inside me. This heavy, fake "agile" framework enables bureaucratic, top-down control, disempowers teams and promises false predictability.
SAFe is one of the best ways to limit your growth as a PM safedelusion.com
Every time I see SAFe's diagrams, something dies inside me. This heavy, fake "agile" framework enables bureaucratic, top-down control, disempowers teams and promises false predictability.
SAFe is one of the best ways to limit your growth as a PM safedelusion.com
TL;DR
There are 6 red flags you can find in job offers:
1. Multitasking
2. Resources
3. Project/schedule
4. Customer proxy
5. Execution
6. SAFe
There are 6 red flags you can find in job offers:
1. Multitasking
2. Resources
3. Project/schedule
4. Customer proxy
5. Execution
6. SAFe
That's a wrap.
By the way, it's Friday! ๐
If you liked my thread:
1. Follow me @PawelHuryn
2. RT the tweet below to share red flags with others
By the way, it's Friday! ๐
If you liked my thread:
1. Follow me @PawelHuryn
2. RT the tweet below to share red flags with others
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