Mastering Execution Skills as a Product Manager
For early career product managers, execution is essential for building trust, credibility, and a track record of success.
Being a Product Manager (PM) means more than just having ideas; it's about execution. It's about turning those ideas into real products. For new PMs, especially those just starting out, focusing on execution is key. How you execute can shape your career and influence how much you help your company.
Why Execution is essential?
Execution is the process of turning ideas into reality. It is the ability to take a plan and make it happen. For new product managers, execution is essential for building trust, credibility, and a track record of success.
Here are three reasons why execution matters for new product managers:
Earning trust through execution: When new product managers execute tasks well and on time, they show their team that they are reliable and trustworthy. This is important for building relationships with stakeholders and getting buy-in for their ideas.
Making ideas come to life: Execution is what turns ideas into products. Without proper execution, an idea remains just a thought. New product managers need to be able to execute their ideas in order to have a real impact on the business.
Learning by doing: By diving into execution, new product managers get firsthand experience. They can quickly see what methods work best and which ones don't. This is essential for learning and growing as a product manager.
How to Build Execution Skills
There are many different skills that are important for execution, but some of the most important include:
Technical skills: Product managers need to have a basic understanding of the technologies that are used to build and launch products. This includes understanding the different programming languages, frameworks, and tools that are used.
Communication skills: Product managers need to be able to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including engineers, designers, and customers. They need to be able to clearly articulate their ideas and get buy-in from others.
Leadership skills: Product managers need to be able to motivate and inspire their team to execute on their ideas. They need to be able to set clear goals, delegate tasks, and track progress.
In addition to these specific skills, there are some general tips that can help new product managers improve their execution skills:
Set clear goals and objectives: Before you start executing, take the time to clearly define your goals and objectives. This will help you stay focused and on track.
Prioritize your tasks: Not all tasks are created equal. Prioritize your tasks based on their importance and urgency.
Break down large tasks into smaller steps: Large tasks can be daunting and overwhelming. Break them down into smaller, more manageable steps.
Track your progress: Keep track of your progress so you can see how you're doing and make adjustments as needed.
Get feedback: Don't be afraid to ask for feedback from your team, stakeholders, and customers. This will help you improve your product and your execution process.
Be persistent: Execution takes time and effort. Don't give up if you don't see results immediately. Keep working hard and you will eventually succeed.
Conclusion
While having great ideas is vital in product management, execution is what transforms them into tangible results. For budding PMs, mastering the art of execution can make all the difference in their success, turning theoretical concepts into real-world value.