5 Ways to Boost Your Confidence as a Product Manager
Having watched various PM interviews lately, I was surprised how many product managers mentioned that they faced imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. Why do PMs struggle with confidence and how can we improve it?
1. Accept the Nature of the Role
Product managers are constantly moving into unknown territory and pushing boundaries. This makes the job extremely interesting but can also lead to a feeling of not knowing enough. Additionally, while things often seem obvious in hindsight, for PMs in the moment, they were not so clear at all. Remember that you're the one figuring things out over time, and that's exactly what makes you valuable. Being in good company and accepting this exploratory nature of the role helps us feel more confident in our journey.
2. Know Your Area of Expertise
As PMs, we're constantly engaging with people who know more than us. Sales know more about the customers, developers know more about the tech constraints, etc. As Product Managers, we highly depend on the knowledge of others. Product managers must realize that generally, they know less about an area than the specialist but more about the intersections. Accurately assessing and knowing where we know more than others helps us be more confident. Asking myself this question and writing it down helped me a lot.
3. Know the Limits
As PMs, we tend to take a lot of ownership and responsibility. At the same time, it's crucial not to over-extend ourselves. We can always refer to the specialists and simply say we need to double-check before committing to an answer. This shows professionalism rather than weakness.
4. Get Regular External Validation
As PMs in many ways, we are the sum of the people we work with. We use the knowledge of others to find a congruent narrative. From idea to strategy, the way we usually gain confidence is when the narrative withstands the judgment of everyone. It's a truth that certainly every founder can relate to. It's therefore crucial to regularly expose your narratives to others and get valuable feedback.
5. Invest Enough Time in Persuasion
Despite the importance of listening and reaching a congruent product story, a product manager also needs to be able to win others over. We, therefore, need to be skilled in persuasion.
For a long time in my career, I underestimated this part of the role. I valued figuring out what to do higher than working on convincing others and regarded polishing and practicing a narrative as "less productive". However, what good is the best strategy if the team does not fully understand it?
These days I value presentation and alignment just as highly as—if not higher than—doing the analysis and research. The ability to effectively communicate and persuade is what transforms good ideas into great products.