3. Leadership Tips for Product Managers

Although a Product Manager (PM) does not directly lead a team in the traditional sense, they play a crucial role in guiding what the product development team will work on. This makes leadership skills vital for a PM, as they are responsible for steering the direction of the product. Here are some key leadership tips that can greatly assist in a PM's day-to-day responsibilities.

1. Setting the Context

One of the most strategic aspects of leadership for a PM is setting the context for the team. Imagine you tell your team, "When it reaches 39, an alarm should sound." Without context, this instruction can lead to confusion and a barrage of questions: "What should reach 39? Is it when it increases from 38 to 39, or decreases from 40 to 39?"

Setting the context helps clarify the broader picture. For example, you might explain, "We are building a system to monitor body temperature, and this system should trigger an alarm when the temperature rises above 39°C." By providing this context, you help the team understand not just the task, but also why it’s important. They grasp that a temperature above 39°C is medically significant and requires immediate attention, which justifies the need for an alarm.

Setting the context involves explaining the "why" behind a task. Simon Sinek’s concept of the "Golden Circle" emphasizes that successful organizations start with "why"—they have a clear purpose before determining "what" to do and "how" to do it.

Purpose, Mission, and Vision

• Why (Purpose): The reason the organization exists, the core belief that drives everything.
• How (Mission): The process or approach the organization takes to fulfill its purpose.
• What (Vision): The tangible actions and outcomes the organization strives to achieve.

For example, at Conta Azul:

• Purpose: "Empower the success of small entrepreneurs." This belief drives the company’s daily work.
• Mission: "Organize all businesses in Brazil." The company helps entrepreneurs focus on their core business by reducing the time spent on administrative tasks.
• Vision: "Be a technological platform that connects small business owners to their accountants." This is the actionable goal to achieve the mission and fulfill the purpose.

By embedding this context into the daily operations, everyone in the company knows the reason behind their work, which helps align efforts and achieve greater success.

2. Removing Impediments

The second leadership tip is more tactical: removing impediments. As a PM, your role is to ensure that the product development team can progress smoothly. Research has shown that the most significant factor distinguishing a good day from a bad one at work is the sense of progress—the ability to achieve and deliver results.

How to Remove Impediments

• Be Present: Stay close to the team, offering support and clarifying any doubts that may arise. Your presence helps maintain focus and ensures that the team is aligned with the product vision.
• Manage Scope: Question whether all requested features are truly necessary to test a solution. Often, a smaller scope can lead to quicker, more effective testing.
• Manage Expectations: Handle the anxiety and expectations from stakeholders regarding the product’s outcomes. If the team is overwhelmed by external pressure, their ability to deliver high-quality work may suffer.
• Foster Ownership: Encourage the team to feel ownership of the product by sharing results and metrics. Show them how their work is impacting user engagement or contributing to business goals. This sense of ownership motivates the team to take responsibility for the product's success.

By focusing on these two key areas — setting the context and removing impediments—you can lead your team effectively, even without formal authority. These leadership practices enable the product development process to run smoothly and help your team achieve the desired outcomes.

These leadership tips — strategically setting the context and tactically removing impediments — are essential tools for any Product Manager. They allow you to guide the product development process effectively, ensuring that your team is aligned with the company’s goals and empowered to deliver their best work.