This week, Product Faculty hosted Lee Howard, Former Product Chief at Google, for a particular #AskMeAnything session. Lee spoke about touchdown interviews at Google, getting buy-in as a brand new PM, and a few of the expertise wanted within the function.
Meet Lee
Lee Howard is a Product Chief who has launched a variety of high-impact digital merchandise. In her final function at Google, she labored on the Superior Expertise and Tasks staff working throughout platform and product to maintain their app Jacquard modern and user-friendly. Earlier than that, she hung out as a Product Enterprise Lead at Shell engaged on their automobile well being service VehicleIQ. The product was geared toward empowering drivers to make smarter selections by providing predictive insights about their autos.
How do you cope with peer rivals/rivals within the office?
This subject may take up many hours of debate. All joking apart, it is a very attention-grabbing query. There’ll by no means be 100% concord at work. I’ve discovered that Amy Gallo’s recommendation is useful. Right here is certainly one of her movies. There shall be occasions when no quantity of relationship constructing, communication, stakeholder administration, staff constructing, and many others. will enhance relationships, however in my expertise, it’s price working laborious on these expertise.
What books would you suggest studying to be able to enhance PM expertise?
There are various good books on the market. I might counsel one thing a bit unconventional and never straight associated to PM, however to relationship constructing – a e book known as, “By no means Eat Alone”.
Try: The 20 Most-Learn Books by Prime Product Managers
What is the greatest manner for PMs exterior google to land an interview with Google Product groups?
A referral from a pal or colleague can work. Google recruiters are always looking out for candidates. Exterior companies are additionally looking out for contract staff. It’s best to by no means hesitate to use straight too.
How do you cope with expertise vs progress trade-off?
I might consider carefully concerning the manufactured progress triggers I’m proposing to design to be able to develop the highest of the funnel and ensure they’re additionally respecting a superb person expertise. You have to to experiment with the expertise you might be constructing. You wish to spend money on retention, which can drive extra referrals and progress on the prime of the funnel. It’s essential experiment with educated approaches.
What recommendation would you give to somebody who’s beginning their profession in Product Administration or transitioning from Engineering?
In case you are transitioning from Engineering to Product Administration, you must take into consideration the opposite elements of the PM job. Normally, it’s a mix of engineering, design, and enterprise, so now it’s time so that you can construct up extra data in design and enterprise. My recommendation is to learn quite a bit concerning the function, of the tech enterprise, and I might advise you to search out your supporters and sponsors at work and see should you can volunteer your time with them doing a little PM duties. One other thought is so that you can develop a facet venture or construct a facet enterprise. You can too take into account getting formal coaching. It’s not simple!
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How would you get buy-in as a brand new Product Supervisor to your concepts each product and workflow?
You can not pull a heavy cart over a weak bridge, so the essential factor is to construct some robust bridges earlier than you make huge or heavy proposals of your personal. Within the first 30-60 days, you wish to go away the impression that you’re a good listener, that you just care very a lot about studying how issues have been determined and constructed previously, and displaying understanding and empathy, and respect for the previous. Then when you’ve got a powerful standpoint of your personal, you possibly can put together your proposal. This video from Harvard Enterprise Overview may very well be useful – it’s helpful not only for disagreeing, however for making a brand new proposal.
How essential is it to have expertise to use for Product Administration Roles? What are some expertise that may assist if one doesn’t have sufficient expertise?
It is very important have some coaching or expertise to use for PM roles, identical to it is crucial for another job on the earth. Some expertise that may assist are associated to engineering, enterprise, and product design as a result of that is the mix of expertise which can be most frequently utilized by PMs!
One other nice learn: Product Managers and Technical Expertise…What’s The Deal?
What’s one of the best ways to steer the staff away from low-priority matters through the grooming classes with out seeming dismissive?
I might warning that too many visible defects or bugs will contribute to a poor person expertise. It may turn out to be dying by a thousand paper cuts! Nonetheless, it’s completely the PM and Engineering Lead’s jobs to maintain the staff centered on high-impact priorities. If you happen to battle to steer your staff, proceed to work in your communication expertise. One very simple trick that I exploit is to make use of the phrase “as a result of” so as to add element to and justification to what I’m emphasizing. It has been proven that utilizing the phrase “as a result of” encourages compliance in individuals.
Do you’ve got any remaining recommendation for aspiring Product Managers?
My remaining recommendation for aspiring Product Managers is to offer this profession 100% of your effort if you wish to succeed.
