What Does It Look Like to Be a Senior+ / Principal Product Manager?

The key characteristics of a senior+ / principal product manager in high tech

Have you wondered what would it be like to be a senior+ or a principal product manager?  Is it as easy as being a product manager for 8-15 years?  No!  It takes communication skills, vision, collaboration, adaptability as well as expertise.

What does it look like as one of these very senior product managers? 

At a start-up, a senior+ product manager might be driving the roadmap and multiple product initiatives cross-functionally.

In a larger organization, a senior+ product manager would lead a product line or multiple products cross-functionally.

The senior product managers are working with finance, sales, marketing, engineering,  architects, operations, and more to drive successful product outcomes.  They are dealing with complex systems, dependencies, and investment justifications daily.  They set a good example to the entire product management team for requirements, business capabilities, and product development processes.

Let's break down the key characteristics of senior + and principal product managers.

Visionary Leadership and Strategic Mindset

They have a clear product vision plus inspiration and guidance on reaching that vision.  They set the direction and priorities for the product team.  They keep the team's efforts aligned with the vision.

They are thinking a few steps ahead.  They scout out potential product issues early and prevent problems.  They have a good understanding of the market trends.  They translate the trends into actions for the product team.

Strong Communications

They communicate about complex systems and customer requirements simply and effectively.  They adapt to their audience's needs and present material that is suited to the audience.  They use active listening to understand the impact of their product initiatives.

Technical Expertise

They have just enough domain and technical knowledge to understand the development challenges of the product team.  They can represent the customers' perspective in a way that helps the product team deliver products that meet the customers' needs.

They do not design or architect solutions.  Instead, they communicate the intent of requirements and the customer's pain points to the product designers and architects.

Decision Making

They don't hold up decisions.  Even when there isn't enough information, they drive to a decision so product work moves forward. 

They use judgment from their experience to make business and priority tradeoffs.  They communicate about decisions so the product team is aligned on decisions taken.

Collaborative Approach

They continually build relationships inside and outside the product team.  They anticipate stakeholder needs by collaborating across the organization.  They transparently communicate the same message across many relationships.

They stay calm when stressed.  They are sought out for advice on their product, the market, and for customer insights.

Adaptability and Continuous Learning

They seek out learning new technology, new processes, and new skills.  They learn from formal and informal mentors.

They set triggers on key dependencies and adapt to changes.  They are unafraid to set a new precedent with their product.

Problem Solving and Analytical Skills

They identify problems, analyze solutions, and use their insights to resolve the problem.  They can prioritize the resolution at the right time - not too early and not too late.

Results-Driven Personality

They prefer actions over words.  They are ready to try experiments to help in decision-making.  They are ready to jump in when invited and ready to help others get results.

Extreme Time Management

Since they are involved in multiple projects and helping others get results, they manage their time wisely.  They time-box activities to make daily progress on their product.  They allocate thinking time to reflect on what they learned.  They also think about the next steps and consider how to handle issues for their product.

Conclusion - Adapting to Your Organization

These characteristics are valuable for senior + / principal product managers.  Some characteristics vary based on the organization, the industry, or the type of product.

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