The Resilient PM

Last year, moving countries and working in an entirely new industry taught me a lot about resilience. I had to first adjust to the local culture, then adapt to working with colleagues from different nationalities who had diverse work and communication styles. On top of that, I had to prepare for more life changes coming my way. In summary, it was a lot to navigate.

But I discovered that as you climb the career ladder, you need to develop thicker skin to keep moving forward. You've got to become something of a superhero who is nearly untouchable, like Superman.

The truth is being a product manager isn't easy. You face many challenges - from sudden changes in plans to working with limited resources. But some product managers don't just survive these challenges - they thrive in them.

What Makes a Resilient Product Manager?

Being resilient means more than just dealing with problems. It means using challenges to grow and improve. It's about being flexible when things change and staying positive even when things get difficult.

As a product manager, you need to be ready for unexpected problems. Here are the main challenges you will often deal with:

• Changes in Business: Markets and customer needs change quickly. You need to be flexible and adjust plans accordingly. Even when you have a detailed roadmap for Plan A, if the business decides to shift to Plan B, you'll need to adapt. That's simply the nature of business.

• New Technology: New tech can quickly make existing products outdated. You will need to stay up-to-date and find ways to use new technology to improve the products you are working on.

• Limited Resources: Often, you will have to work with tight budgets and small teams, which makes it hard to complete big projects.

• Different People's Needs: You will work with many people - customers, developers, bosses, and investors. Each group wants different things, which can be tricky to balance.

• Team Management: Leading teams with different skills and personalities can be challenging.

• Company Politics: Getting resources and approval for new ideas often involves navigating office politics.

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How to Build Resilience

Cultivate Strategic Thinking

• Always have a Plan B (and C, and D): Things don't always go as expected. Have backup plans ready so you can quickly adapt when challenges arise. This could mean having alternative solutions, timelines, or resources in place. Don't get stuck on a single approach.
  

• Focus on the problem you're solving, not the solution you initially imagined: It's easy to get attached to your first idea, but sometimes that idea isn't the best way to solve the actual problem. Stay flexible and be open to exploring different solutions that might be more effective.
  

• Keep your eye on long-term goals while dealing with short-term setbacks: Day-to-day challenges can be distracting. Don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Every decision and action should contribute to your overall product vision and strategy.

Build Your Support Network

• Connect with other PMs who understand your challenges: Product management can be isolating. Build relationships with other product managers who can offer support, advice, and a fresh perspective. Share your experiences and learn from theirs.
  

• Find mentors who've weathered similar storms: Experienced mentors can provide invaluable guidance. Seek out people who have navigated similar challenges and can offer insights based on their own successes and failures.
  

• Create relationships across departments – you'll need allies: Working in a vacuum is dangerous. Build strong relationships with colleagues in engineering, design, marketing, and other departments. These relationships will be crucial for collaboration, communication, and getting things done.

Strengthen Your Learning Mindset

• Document lessons from each setback: Every challenge is a learning opportunity. When things don't go as planned, take the time to analyze what happened, why it happened, and what you can do differently next time. Keep a record of these lessons.
  

• Share your learnings with others: Don't keep your knowledge to yourself. Sharing your experiences and insights with others can help them avoid similar pitfalls and contribute to a culture of continuous learning within your team and organization.
  

• View every challenge as a chance to improve your skills: Adopt a growth mindset. Instead of seeing challenges as obstacles, view them as opportunities to develop your skills and become a better product manager. Embrace the learning process and strive for continuous improvement.

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Practical Resilience Exercises

The 24-Hour Rule

When faced with a major setback, give yourself 24 hours to feel frustrated. After that, shift your energy to finding solutions. This isn't about suppressing emotions – it's about channeling them productively.

The Perspective Shift

When something goes wrong, ask yourself:

• What can I learn from this?

• How might this lead to a better outcome?

• What opportunities does this change create?

The Solution Focus

Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, train yourself to immediately start thinking about next steps:

• What options do I have now?

• Who can help me navigate this?

• What's the best outcome I can work toward given the new constraints?

Your worth as a product manager isn't solely measured by how perfectly things go – it's measured by how effectively you handle things when they don't go as planned. Every setback you navigate adds to your experience and makes you more valuable.

The most respected product managers aren't the ones who never face challenges; they're the ones who maintain their composure and effectiveness in the face of constant change and unexpected obstacles.

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I Am Here to Help…

When you're ready to take the next step toward improving your career and becoming a better PM, let's schedule a call to discuss how we can work together.