Characteristics That Made Great Product Managers

Have you seen the Pixar film, Ratatouille?

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There's a dialog towards the end of the movie that has always stuck with me.

"Anyone can cook. But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he (Gusteau) meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere." - Anton Ego - the food critic.

Anton says this after a rat blows his mind with a masterpiece of a meal.

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This rings true for product management as well.

I reckon anyone can become a product manager.

Whether your degree is in tech, electrical, finance, history or math.

Whether you're coming from a CS, marketing, finance or accounting background.

Whether you're from a bustling metropolitan or a modest town.

Whether you're a coffee or tea person.

A stellar top 1% Product Manager can come from absolutely anywhere provided they are exposed to an environment that leverages their strengths.

These are gifted people who are able to balance the delicate trifecta of business, engineering and design & marry it gracefully with people & time management skills.

They can project a practical route to a desirable future.

They communicate with impact.

They find the 20% which will yield 80% of the impact.

They have a nose for design & an eye for numbers.

They learn (about customers, their domain & market gaps) and unlearn (question their assumptions, the status quo and faulty hypothesis).

However, unlike Anton's assessment, I do believe that there is a path from good to great.

But there are no shortcuts. It takes years of practice & an authentic passion for the discipline.

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The two things that help in this journey are:

1- Keep shipping

The more you build & release, the better your sixth sense will be.

2- Keep learning

Primarily from other products & from people who have walked the path before.

Anyone can be a great PM. But it takes grit, fire & a spirit of sacrifice.