Useful Tips for Internal Product Managers

Have you ever worked as an internal product manager?

An internal PM is responsible to solve a company-facing problem for employees, usually with the help of a tech solution.

I tasted this flavor when I was building a sales gamification tool for Bayt's sales team.

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In case you land such a gig, here are some tips:

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1. Find the customer

The main stakeholder may not be the one who handed you the project.

Interview around to find whose goals closely align with the problem you're solving.

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2. Size your influence

Figure out what company resources you have at your disposal (software, people etc.) & what authority you've been granted to inflict change.

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3. Check the shelf

Before you go on a mission to build a smashing SaaS product, explore off-the-shelf options.

You may need to just purchase/configure rather than build.

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4. Seize the data

You'll find data will be all over the place. Lean towards automation even if have to script. Keep data entry ops as backup.

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5. Create pressure

It's easy to get comfortable with no client. Mandate hard deadlines on yourself.

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6. Evangelize hard

Email, Slack, Videos, Workshops. Keep selling to employees.

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7. Float the metrics

Regularly advertise adoption metrics & NPS surveys to leadership.

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