The Long Game in Product Management - follow up story

The power of patience in reaching long-term goals

What happened after writing a recent Product Management IRL article? These insights are for premium subscribers to Product Management IRL.

This week’s backstory is about a recent article on strategies for reaching career goals:

The Long Game in Product Management

What Prompted this Article?

A product manager contacted me on LinkedIn asking about my promotion a year ago. I wrote this article after speaking to him about my steps to a promotion in product management. The summary is:

1. Think about readiness for the next level

- Learn the skills needed for the next level

2. Operate at the next level

- lead a project with senior people

- build up business acumen

- practice time management

3. Build relationships at the next level

- side projects to meet new people

- communicate the big picture

The theme is being patient while you show that you are ready for the next level.

I skipped writing about pursuing outside opportunities.

What Happened After this Article?

I have pushed myself to follow this advice:

• continuous learning - shared in articles in this newsletter

• work at the next level - practicing coaching and delegation

• build relationships with peers of my boss - new stories to come

Doing these things has provided a lot of growth opportunities. I don’t have time to think about outside opportunities.

Stay or Go at a Career Plateau?

I wonder if I could grow faster in another organization.