First 90 Days to Shine as a New Product Manager
As industries evolve and innovate at a breakneck pace, product management stands as one of the most sought-after career paths due to its immense growth potential and impact. Product managers see a whopping 650% increase in their median salary over 10 years (1), making it one of the most rewarding career paths today. The job, however, is certainly not easy. As a product manager, you will be stepping into a room filled with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and a product roadmap that needs attention. The weight of expectations can feel overwhelming. Given this, it is important for product managers to set the right tone immediately after assuming responsibility.And with a structured approach, you can navigate these early days with confidence and set yourself up for long-term success.
This guide explores actionable strategies to help you excel in the first 90 days as a product manager. .
Understanding Your Role as a Product Manager
One of the first tasks in this new position is to understand the product manager roles and responsibilities within your organization. These responsibilities can vary widely depending on the company’s size, industry, and product type, so it’s important to gain clarity from the outset. Here are some steps to help:
- Study the job description: Revisit the product manager job description to ensure you fully understand what’s expected of you, including deliverables, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and reporting structures
- Identify key stakeholders: Understand who you will be working with and reporting to, such as cross-functional teams, leadership, and external partners
- Clarify expectations early: Schedule one-on-one meetings with your manager and team members to align on priorities and understand organizational goals
For example, if your role involves managing a new product launch, focus on understanding the timeline, the team’s current challenges, and how your contribution can address these.
ALSO READ: How Snigdha Sukhavasi Transitioned From Marketing to Product Management
Building Relationships and Credibility
Collaboration is at the heart of a product manager’s role, making it essential to build strong relationships in your first 90 days. Establishing trust and credibility early on can significantly impact your success. Here are some tips to help you:
1. Engage in active listening: In meetings, listen carefully and ask thoughtful questions to show your curiosity and understanding. For example, during a stakeholder meeting, a question such as, “What are the biggest challenges we’ve faced in achieving our product goals?” will help you gain insights into what can be changed or improved.
2. Show humility and a willingness to learn: Acknowledge what you don’t know and express your eagerness to learn from others. This approach fosters trust and collaboration.
3. Understand team dynamics: Spend time observing how your team communicates and works together. Identify their strengths, challenges, and preferred methods of collaboration to tailor your leadership style accordingly.
4. Build cross-functional relationships: Meet with teams such as engineering, design, marketing, and sales to understand their goals and how your role can support them.
For instance, if you discover that the sales team struggles to communicate new product features to customers, prioritize creating clear documentation and training materials as a quick win.
Learning the Product Inside Out
In your first few weeks, developing a deep understanding of your product is essential. As a product manager beginner, you need to become the go-to expert on your product. Here are some steps to achieve this:
A. Dive Into Product History
Review past roadmaps, release notes, and project documentation to learn how the product has evolved and understand its strategic direction.
B. Engage Directly with the Product
Use the product as a customer would, identifying its strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
C. Gather Customer Insights
Speak to sales teams, customer support, and even customers to understand their needs, pain points, and expectations. For instance, ask customer support about recurring complaints or questions to identify potential areas of improvement.
D. Analyze Performance Data
Examine metrics and analytics to uncover trends, successes, and opportunities for growth. For example, look at user engagement rates to determine which features resonate most with your audience.
By immersing yourself in the product’s ecosystem, you will be better equipped to make informed decisions and guide your team effectively.
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Defining Goals and Achieving Quick Wins
Setting clear goals and delivering quick wins in your first 90 days can help you establish momentum and credibility. Here’s how you can approach this:
1. Set SMART goals: Create Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives. For instance, improve onboarding completion rates by 10% within the next three months.
2. Focus on high-impact tasks: Identify initiatives that can yield significant results in a short period. This could be addressing a frequently reported bug or launching a minor but impactful product update.
3. Communicate your wins effectively: Share your progress and successes with stakeholders through regular updates and presentations to reinforce your value to the team.
Resolving a long-standing technical issue or implementing a feature request from a major client can quickly establish your credibility and demonstrate your ability to deliver results.
Strategic Vision for the Future
While focusing on immediate tasks, it is equally important to think long term. The first 90 days are an opportunity to set the foundation for a clear and compelling product vision. Here are some strategies:
1. Collaborate on a product strategy: Work closely with stakeholders to define a strategy that aligns with the company’s broader goals.
2. Balance short-term and long-term planning: Ensure that your immediate actions contribute to the organization’s strategic objectives. If your short-term goal is to enhance a feature, consider how this aligns with your long-term vision for user engagement during product planning.
3. Keep customers at the center: Use customer feedback and data to shape a vision that prioritizes delivering value. For example, if customer surveys highlight a demand for better integrations, make this a key part of your strategy.
Having a strategic vision not only guides your decision-making but also inspires your team to rally behind a shared purpose.
How Training Can Accelerate Your Success
Being a successful product manager requires mastering a wide range of skills, from strategic thinking to stakeholder management. Enrolling in a formal programme, such as the IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Product Management, can significantly accelerate your learning curve. Here’s what this programme, in collaboration with Emeritus, offers:
- Comprehensive product management insights: Gain in-depth knowledge of best practices for tackling real-world challenges
- Expert mentorship: Learn directly from industry leaders and seasoned professionals
- Practical applications: Work on simulations and case studies that mirror real-life scenarios, helping you translate theory into practice
This 39-week online programme also provides flexible learning through pre-recorded video lectures, weekly live doubt-clearing sessions with industry practitioners, and access to tools like product roadmaps and analytics frameworks.
The capstone project helps participants integrate their learnings and apply them to real-world competitive business scenarios. Upon successful completion, you will receive a verified digital certificate from IIM Kozhikode, which can elevate your career prospects.
ALSO READ: Why Transitioning to a Product Manager Role is Tougher Than You Think
Set Yourself up for Success
The first 90 days as a product manager are a pivotal time to demonstrate your value and set the stage for long-term success. By understanding your product manager roles and responsibilities, building strong relationships, mastering the product, and achieving quick wins, you can confidently navigate this period and make a meaningful impact. Remember, the journey is about learning, adapting, and continuously delivering value.
If you’re ready to accelerate your growth and take your career to the next level, consider enrolling in the IIMK Professional Certificate Programme in Product Management and take the next steps toward building your future today.
Write to us at content@emeritus.org
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