How I work

Introduction

Ever wondered what a day in the life of a product manager looks like? It's not all about flashy presentations and big decisions. In this blog post, we'll take a simple and straightforward peek into my typical day as a product manager, I'm breaking it down my tasks into easily understandable chunks.

Morning: Planning and Prioritizing

1. Check Emails and Team messages: The day often starts with checking emails and team messages. Usually, I receive messages from team members, stakeholders, and customers, all needing attention or some action.

2. Review Metrics: I look at important numbers, like how many people are using the product and what features are popular. This helps me to understand what's working and what needs improvement.

3. Daily Standup: I often have a quick morning meeting with the team to discuss progress and any roadblocks. It's like a huddle before the big game. Had a quick chat with scrum master and architect.

4. CI/CD pipeline: I look at the CI/CD pipeline to see things are in place, no failing integration test.

Midday: Meetings and Collaboration

1. User Feedback: I listen to feedback from users. This could be from customer support, surveys, or social media. I take notes to understand what people like and dislike.

2. Meetings: I spend a lot of time in meetings. I meet with designers, engineers, marketers, and others to make sure everyone is on the same page.

3. Decision Making: Sometimes, I have to make tough decisions about what features to work on next. This involves weighing the needs of customers and the goals of the company.

4. Stakeholder Management: Talk to stakeholders, to understand what is coming next. I often give brief overview what is happening and show them different metrics.

Afternoon: Execution and Adaptation

1. Write User Stories: I create user stories, which are like mini-plans for building a big features. These stories explain what the feature should do from a user's perspective.

2. Review Designs: I look at designs for new features. I tried to make sure the designs match the user stories and the overall vision.

3. Problem Solving: When issues or unexpected challenges arise, I work with the team to find solutions. It's like being a curious listener for the product problems.

Evening: Wrapping Up and Future Planning

1. Emails and Updates: Before calling it a day, I respond to any remaining emails and provide updates to the team.

2. Future Planning: I spend time thinking about the long-term roadmap for the product. What should be built next increment, next month or next year?

3. Reflection: I reflect on what went well and what could have been done better during the day. This helps me to be more productive.

Conclusion

My typical day is a mix of planning, meetings, collaboration, and problem-solving. It's about understanding what users want, working with the team to make it happen, and always thinking about the future. While it may not always be glamorous, but I enjoy the work.