4 questions Shreyas wishes he’d asked himself sooner | Former PM leader at Stripe, Twitter, Google

Why am I so busy?

Product leaders often find themselves overwhelmed by their responsibilities. The constant busyness is attributed to several key factors.

• Increasing Scope: As leaders climb the ladder, the scope of their work naturally expands. This increased responsibility often outpaces the available time and resources.

• Ineffective Planning: Traditional planning processes, especially during annual cycles, can become cumbersome. Without a solid product strategy, these efforts can lead to weeks of exhaustive and often unproductive work.

• Poor Decision-Making: Busy leaders might be making quick, superficial decisions that accumulate a burden of follow-up tasks. Misjudged features or priorities can consume time, diverting focus from more impactful decisions.

Strategies to Manage Scope and Prioritize

1. Develop a Real Product Strategy: A well-defined strategy can streamline decision-making and reduce the need for lengthy planning periods.

2. Limit Unnecessary Work: Focus on high-impact tasks. Resist the urge to engage in every project or feature that crosses your path.

3. Pause for Deliberation: Instead of rushing decisions, take a moment to evaluate their long-term implications. Prioritize decisions that align with your overarching goals.

By understanding these causes and applying the mentioned strategies, product leaders can effectively manage their workload and maintain clarity in their roles.

Do I actually have good taste?

Recognizing the significance of having good taste in product strategy and decision-making can dramatically affect a leader's success. Good taste refers to the ability to discern what is truly excellent without relying on obvious outcomes.

Much like in sports where "game recognizes game," it is about recognizing potential and quality before results validate them.

In the realm of product management, taste is not only about aesthetics. It involves the ability to evaluate ideas, strategies, and approaches critically, shedding preconceived biases and authority influences. For instance, the allure of catchy metaphors like "two-way doors" over more straightforward concepts can skew judgment. Similarly, alliterations such as "fail fast" often captivate more than non-alliterative versions like "fail quickly," even though the meanings remain the same.

By developing true taste, leaders can better guide their teams and product strategies towards success, making well-informed decisions that align with their vision.

Why does my job feel so frustrating?

Frustration in product leadership often stems from a misalignment between daily tasks and innate strengths or superpowers.

• Mismatch with Core Skills: Spending too much time on activities outside your primary skill set can lead to dissatisfaction.

• Loneliness in Leadership: The nature of a PM leader’s role can feel isolating, intensifying stress and frustration.

• Excessive Focus on Optics: When more effort is spent on appearances rather than genuine impact, it contributes to job dissatisfaction.

Aligning Work with Superpowers

1. Identify Your Core Strengths: Recognize what truly energizes you and where you excel.

2. Focus on Impactful Work: Prioritize tasks that align with your superpowers to reduce frustration and enhance performance.

3. Set Realistic Boundaries: Balance between optics, execution, and impact work to stay true to your strengths and minimize stress.

By aligning tasks with innate strengths and setting realistic boundaries, frustration can be significantly mitigated, allowing for a more fulfilling role in product leadership.

Am I really listening?

True listening is a skill that transcends merely hearing the words spoken. Leaders must dive deeper to fully understand and interact with their teams meaningfully. It's about being present, engaging sincerely, and understanding what's being communicated beneath the surface.

"I told him this is what I heard and all of that nonsense," reflects Shreyas, revealing how surface-level listening often misses the mark. Genuine listening goes beyond simple acknowledgment—it's about comprehending with empathy and insight.

Listening as a leader can significantly enhance effectiveness. Harnessing this skill requires shedding preconceived notions, focusing on what's genuinely being said, and considering varying perspectives. It’s a transformative practice that fosters stronger relationships and builds trust within a team. Listening is more than a technique; it's an essential leadership quality that enriches connections and drives success.