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Attrition during COVID has been on the rise, causing managers to need to backfill more frequently. Though disruptive, attrition creates an opportunity for PM managers to build stronger, more diverse teams with some focus and creative search strategies.

Based on a long career in product management, these are 12 PM career traps to avoid. It's natural to learn and improve at PM over time, but it's better to sidestep the avoidable traps. This post covers role and product selection, working with coworkers and customers, and knowing what you do and don't own.

Episode two: A short oral history in podcast form on my own career in product management. Included are common questions and answers, plus my points of view on techniques and career. Hosted by Ashwini Vasanth at the Through the Corporate Glass podcast. https://www.throughthecorporateglass.com/.

Episode one: A short oral history in podcast form on my own career in product management. Included are common questions and answers, plus my points of view on techniques and career. Hosted by Ashwini Vasanth at the Through the Corporate Glass podcast. https://www.throughthecorporateglass.com/.

Product manager skill sets require practice and sharpening over time to get better and more effective. To achieve this, investment in self is an important and strategic learning technique for working professionals. Better skills can also help open the door to more opportunities with more responsibility and authority over time.

Over the recent five years, educational organizations have begun offering formal product management training. Before that there have been a wealth of PM leaders individually sharing their expertise with the public. These are some of my favorite authors and insights.

Ambitious PMs work hard to deliver and aim to get promoted to more senior roles. As you move across companies in your career, you might be surprised to be offered jobs with titles below the one you currently have. Learn the levers being used and which ones you have control of to achieve your long-term goals.

If you like archeology you know that foundations and walls once built can last generations. Company culture is similar. The patterns laid down early can be long lived. Trust your gut when meeting new companies and potential managers.

Unlocking entry into a product management career takes horizontal growth of skills beyond your foundational training area. If you're eager and driven, use the decoder ring to identify roles, training, and educational tracks, and translate them into finding opportunities, and landing your PM starting point.

In a very early startup the first PM does not often truly own the product. The founder is your first PM; being the person who launched the company on their great idea. It can be hard for them as a result to hand off their baby to someone new. Learn how to grow and succeed in this environment of high ambiguity, and high risk.