4: Don’t focus on what’s stopping you
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I’m writing about one hundred things I’ve learned about being a product manager.
Product managers can be creatures of habit. Some habits are good and give us a consistent and diligent approach. Sometimes, though, we allow ourselves to be constrained by habitual thinking, inhibiting true innovation. What’s stopping you?
The question we should really be asking is: “how can we do it?”
How often have you found yourself thinking: “we can’t do X because that’s not the way we do things” or “we can’t do Y because we can’t change our billing system”?
The question we should really be asking is: “how can we do it?”
By asking this question, the discussion takes on a very different tone. Positivity and creativeness replaces negativity and resistance to change, and the whole conversation becomes much more enjoyable for all concerned. Give it a try next time you find yourself hitting obstacles.
Read more from Jock
The Practitioner's Guide To Product Management
by Jock Busuttil
“This is a great book for Product Managers or those considering a career in Product Management.”
— Lyndsay Denton
Jock Busuttil is a freelance head of product, product management coach and author. He has spent over two decades working with technology companies to improve their product management practices, from startups to multinationals. In 2012 Jock founded Product People Limited, which provides product management consultancy, coaching and training. Its clients include BBC, University of Cambridge, Ometria, Prolific and the UK’s Ministry of Justice and Government Digital Service (GDS). Jock holds a master’s degree in Classics from the University of Cambridge. He is the author of the popular book The Practitioner’s Guide To Product Management, which was published in January 2015 by Grand Central Publishing in the US and Piatkus in the UK. He writes the blog I Manage Products and weekly product management newsletter PRODUCTHEAD. You can find him on Mastodon, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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