Three unconventional ways to be a better product manager 

The role of a product manager is inherently diverse – your day-to-day work depends on the company, team, technology, and  project goals. While there are many traditional paths to growth in product management, let's explore some unconventional ways  to develop skills outside of work that can positively impact your career. 

As someone who started out shy and introverted, I've spent years developing my communication skills. I used to experience  classic symptoms of anxiety: dry mouth, tunnel vision, sweaty palms, and a racing heart. My breakthrough came through an  unexpected channel – music. 

I decided to take vocal lessons, starting with performances in front of fellow classmates. Despite being terrified to open my mouth, I persevered because I knew that being heard was the whole point. This eventually led to performing at local bars in  Chicago. The experience taught me that performance art – whether music, spoken word, poetry reading, improv, or Toastmasters  – can be an excellent way to build courage and confidence. 

The low-stakes yet exciting nature of these activities provides valuable practice in standing in front of people and risking failure. As product managers, we constantly collaborate, present ideas, and interact with customers. How we show up makes a significant  difference, so why not develop these skills through enjoyable channels? 

Breaking free from product management literature can open up unexpected sources of inspiration and knowledge. By joining  book clubs or independently exploring different genres, we can discover valuable insights from various fields. Reading a new book is like opening a door to adjacent possibilities—allowing our minds to make connections not only from the lessons in the  books but also by integrating our personal experiences and expertise. 

For instance, Carol Dweck's "Mindset" helped me understand how a growth mindset can liberate us from self-imposed limitations  and incorrect beliefs. Much like the agile product development process of failing fast and often, personal growth doesn't come  from a constant stream of successes, but rather from consistent effort and learning from failure. The author makes a compelling  case that early success can actually discourage effort, which often leads to "lesser success" in the long run. 

Similarly, James Clear's "Atomic Habits" has vastly improved my ability to prioritize, focus on processes, and build identity based habits. I now ask myself: What kind of product manager do I want to be? What kind of teammate do I want to be? What  actions will prove that to myself, creating a sustaining, long-lasting habit loop? 

As product managers, we juggle multiple stakeholders, projects, and problems – which can become overwhelming. Different  stakeholders prefer information presented in various formats, including presentations, tables and numbers, and visual references.  However, it's equally important to consider how we ourselves like to learn, process, and communicate in ways that make sense to  us. While traditional journaling works for some, I've found that visual thinking techniques like mind mapping, flow charts, and  image boards better suit my personal style of processing and conveying information. 

I maintain numerous FigJam files filled with doodles and brainstorming sessions – personal explorations that may or may not  evolve into work-related projects. This practice has helped me develop the crucial skill of expressing abstract ideas visually,  which is invaluable for product managers. Moreover, these visual journals serve as powerful tools for future reference and  collaboration, capturing fleeting ideas that might otherwise be lost. 

The key to growing as a product manager often lies in developing these adjacent skills that complement our core responsibilities.  By exploring unconventional paths, we can build a unique set of capabilities that enhance our effectiveness in the role.