The Product Team
I’ve found that there is a distinct need to have a product team, and to work with them regularly. This is different from the actual product management team, and this post goes into some detail regarding building product teams and why they are crucial.
For me, I can’t work in a vacuum, and I don’t ever recommend that people try. It sucks. I’ve worked in scenarios where feedback is limited (both good and bad), and that lack of direct communication can really end-up leading someone down the wrong path if they don’t have enough experience.
This is why I like to make sure there is a strong tie / bond between a few key cross-functional leaders in a company, since those are the folks, along with the PM, that are driving product decisions. A product mgr can’t make all the choices, all the time, by him or herself. If you have a PM working for you that is trying to do that, I suggest you evaluate, and quick.
You want conversation and constructive discussion across the entire board. For me, I like to work with folks on a “product team” that are a) super-into what they are doing b) have bought into the vision whole-heartedly c) believe in me and what product mgmt is all about and d) have more influence in the company than myself.
That last one is a funny one because it’s truly not a matter of brown nosing, but a matter of realizing that in my scenario, even though I’m helping drive a lot of key things forward and sometimes my ego likes to think that I am a Director or operating at a VP level, the truth of the matter is, I’m just not. I’m not part of Senior Management, and probably won’t be in this job, and probably my next job.
So, in a company that’s as small as I’m at now, it’s key for me to have folks that really understand what I’m trying to do as a product geek, and support decisions I’m making so they can go to bat for the products themselves (not for me — I don’t care about that) and make sure other Senior Mgr’s understand why certain things are being pushed the way they are.
Plus, at the end of the day, I like have that team of people to turn to for support. When I’m not sure of something, it’s incredible to be able to get clear, concise, and above all else — constructive, feedback from them. It’s not, “you’re too young, which means you’re stupid. I’m going to school you now.” They recognize how critical the products are the companies success, and why certain things are the way they are.
And for what it’s worth, the trust you are doing your job, and you trust they are doing yours. And you come together to build out good recommendations to discuss with your CEO’s and your VC’s. And then you pray THEY recognize that the people involved in making product choices understand the task at hand, and are doing their jobs. Then it all starts to flow and work together.
So, thanks goes out to the product team I am working with now — you guys know who you are. Just know that you make my job a helluva lot easier, and I wanted to try and communicate that to other PM’s that could be reading this so they can start thinking about how a structure like this one can help them.
