Video: The Product Manager Trust Journey
We've all gone through it.
Starting with a superficial “trust” and then realizing how hard it is to create real trust.
Nowadays, I help teams avoid these pitfalls and spot areas of growth...for themselves and their product.
In the beginning, a Product Manager trusts other team members to get things done.
The PM is “hands-off”.
They write everything down and assumes the team will get the right thing done.
This initial “trust” is superficial.
Unfortunately, the “hands off” style leaves too many unknowns and concepts fail.
“Hands off” is more hopeful than useful.
First, the PM reduces scope.
Then, the PM micro-manages the team.
Still, no success.
This superficial “trust” has gotten the team nowhere.
The PM must change tactics.
They must start small and find a way to collaborate better.
The PM can switch to macro-management.
In macro-management, the PM chooses to provide the context of the solution instead of writing down every possible detail.
The context encourages the team to think for themselves and take ownership for achieving common goals.
Leading the team with context takes time to master.
Start small and then grow scope as everyone works in the new way.
As teams debate and collaborate more closely, they earn each others trust.
After small wins, the mutual trust grows.
Macro-management along with earned trust leads to an empowered environment enabling the team to achieve larger and more consistent wins.
Jim coaches Product Management organizations in startups, growth stage companies and Fortune 100s.
He's a Silicon Valley founder with over two decades of experience including an IPO ($450 million) and a buyout ($168 million). These days, he coaches Product leaders and teams to find product-market fit and accelerate growth across a variety of industries and business models.
Jim graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Computer Science and currently lectures at University of California, Berkeley in Product Management.
