Surviving Product Management: Tips to Succeed in Challenging Times

As a product manager, crises can strike at any moment, causing stress and frustration for you and your team. Unexpected setbacks, such as supply chain disruptions and market shifts, can quickly derail even the most well-planned product launches.

In this post, I will provide four practical tips to help you navigate such times effectively, whether you are a seasoned product manager or just starting out.

It’s a challenging period, and I understand the nervousness about the economy and the current job market. However, I believe that looking for the silver lining in times like this can make a significant difference in our well-being.

You have two choices: live in fear that your company might lay off people (if it hasn’t already happened), or TAKE ACTION and use the time you now have to move forward and advance your career.

Here are four simple things you can do now to keep moving forward and take control of what is within your control:

1. Build your network — Connecting with other product managers has never been easier. With a Slack or Facebook account, you can join one of over 50,000 product management communities to exchange ideas or get advice. Networking is critical, whether you’re looking for a job or just want to connect with like-minded individuals.
2. Update your resume — Updating your resume is essential, whether you have a job or not. Most companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen job applications, so make sure your resume is ATS-friendly to succeed in your job hunt. I’ve curated some resources to help you create the perfect PM resume.
3. Improve your product management skills — Continuous improvement of your product management skills is critical, especially during a crisis. Manage your time better by time-blocking and get the hard things done. Don’t let conflicting opinions hold you back from connecting with stakeholders or managing backlogs.
4. Read every day — Reading for at least 30 minutes every day is an excellent way to improve your skills and knowledge as a product manager. There are some outstanding books, podcasts, and blogs on product management that I recommend to everyone, including “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Frankl, which provides inspiration for finding meaning in suffering and moving forward with purpose.

In conclusion, the choice is yours on how you will use the time you have now.

Will you use it to become a better product manager? I hope so!