How to become a Product Manager?

I occasionally run into people who aspire to become a Product Manager and I try to help them with advice. Here is what I tell them.

A Product Manager is someone who owns the product from start to end, from cradle to grave, someone who ensures the product is a success in terms of market acceptance and profitability for the company. Essentially a Product Manager is a spirited leader and a CEO of the product.

This is a very diverse, multi-faceted role dealing with a broad range of aspects such as project management, design, market research, pricing, finance, operations, branding, public relations, communications and more. The good news is you don't have to be an expert in all of these functions, not as long as you can join or help build a team that is collectively strong in these areas. A good Product Manager knows how to succeed with rich but scattered resources that can be found at a large corporation as well as with scarce early stage start-up resources.

So, you might ask, where do I begin?

You do need to bring something to the table. And one thing that cannot be compromised is your expertise in one or more competence areas, be that the technology, the market place or the relevant industry. I really do think to make a switch into this career and succeed you have to be an established subject matter expert or on track to become one.

In addition to being an expert, rest assured your prior background will contribute as well. You may be an engineer or a scientist which will help you quickly establish good rapport with your product development team. You may be transitioning from sales and marketing, possessing knowledge and skills sure to come in handy when devising the best positioning and go to market strategy for your product. Dear I say, anything you were good at in the past will help you in your new Product Management career. Even if all it ensures is your attitude toward being good at whatever you do.

In any case, understand your strengths and strive to rely on them as much as you can. And where you know you have weaknesses seek to partner with other people who can complement you.

Good luck!