Why a good product manager is like Avatar’s Jake Sully
I recently came across the blog of a former classmate, Gummi Hafsteinsson. While always insightful, Gummi’s post, entitled “What makes a good product manager for software development?” is particularly noteworthy.
Gummi’s keys to excellent product management
In his post Gummi argues that to be successful, one needs the following core traits:
- Deep technical understanding
- Speed of execution and juggling skills
- Obsessive enthusiasm about the product experience
While I wholeheartedly agree with Gummi (and I would highly encourage you to read his post to fully understand his perspective), here’s another way to think about what it takes to be a great PM…
My take: Be like Jake
Yes, shamelessly capitalizing on Avatar’s popularity, I think the core traits a good software product manager needs are well embodied by Sam Worthington’s character in Avatar: Jake Sully. These are simply:
- Brains
- Guts
- Charisma
- Character
Here’s how good product managers use each of these.
But first, the basics – your admission ticket
There are some baseline skills that are necessary, but not sufficient, to be a successful PM – you gotta have them to even be in the game, far less being a star performer. The first of these traits is impeccable communication skills that include telling great stories (presentations), distilling ideas, writing specifications, and most importantly listening. Secondly, great organizational abilities are a must, enabling one to develop processes / systems
, plan schedules, and manage time effectively.
“I dissected a frog once”
1) Brains: Both right & left
As Gummi mentions technical chops are critical, but also having a deep understanding of the customer pains and needs is key as well. In addition to the standard “left-brained” problem solving, you also have to factor in the “right brain” creativity to imagine unseen possibilities to develop truly unique and novel solutions. Often, I think that raw intellectual horsepower (from both the right & left brains) helps, yet there needs to also be a healthy does of curiosity and an overall willingness to learn.
“Then teach me!”
2) Guts: Taking a stand, making a call, and being accountable
The ability to synthesize information from multiple sources on the fly, and to make a decision under uncertainty is of paramount importance. Sometimes it means a data-driven decision, but many times it requires some good old fashioned intuition, as options are rarely crystal clear. It’s that ability to do what you believe is right when there is abundant ambiguity, in a timely manner, while staying cool under fire. If you’re wrong, you’re wrong and you’ll learn fast and take corrective action – but that ability to stand up and take responsibility when you don’t have complete control of the situation is key.
“Let’s Dance”
3) Charisma: Leading teams and building relationships
The ability to build, motivate, and lead an effective team is also a key skill. Often times product management epitomizes the “influence without authority” adage, as it entails driving cooperation and consensus between a cross-functional team of engineers, designers, salespeople, marketing, and of course the customers. So the ability to articulate and manage a vision, negotiate and reconcile dissenting points of view, and still maintain a strong, cohesive product is really, really hard.
“They’ve sent us a message that they can take whatever they want. But we will send them a message that this is our land.”
4) Character: Attitude over aptitude
This final trait is all about how someone is wired. It’s difficult to extract this from a basic interview, but in a work setting it doesn’t take long to know who’s got it and who doesn’t. The most important of these qualities is integrity; simply put, if you can’t trust this person to watch your kid, you can’t have them oversee your product line. After that the next thing is that internal burning desire to make something happen, or a bias toward action. Finally, the person has to wants to see results and be accountable for them. At the end of the day, it’s about the hunger and desire to do what’s right, so in this regard I value the person who “has it” but may not have the experience, over those that are experienced but complacent or untrustworthy.
“Maybe I was sick of doctors telling me what I couldn’t do”
What do you value?
So if you find someone like Jake Sully that has brains, guts, charisma, and character, you’re all set. What are the major traits that you think good PM’s need?
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