The 90 Day Product Leadership Roadmap: Days 31-60
For a product manager or product executive 30 days into their new job, the excitement — and anxiety — of being in a new place is subsiding and you’re getting more comfortable. But there’s still a long way to go. To further your product leader career path, here’s what to focus on in days 31-60.
Am I in the Right Job at the Right Organization?
In your second month at you new gig, the most important thing is to decide if you want to stay where you are. Maybe you’re having some regrets. Don’t worry - it’s very common to ask yourself if this has been a mistake. Confront those feelings early and either switch your energy to finding something else (while maintaining your current leadership role — we’ll cover this dynamic in a separate post), or commit to your existing organization. If you choose the latter, you’re committing 100% to being where you are and making the biggest difference you can.
Schedule a Mental Check-In Date
Once you’ve made the decision to fully commit to your new role, put a spot on your calendar for a job assessment check-in. It could be within a year or two, or as soon as six months in. Either with a close friend or relative, or in a quiet time alone, ask yourself: Do I still feel good about my job? Am I still fully committed to this company? Am I going in the right direction? After you make a decision to stay or go, there’s no need to second guess yourself. You’re committing to a time frame, not forever. When you feel doubt, tell yourself that now is not the time to question yourself. Now is the time to commit. You can question yourself again after your mental check in date arrives.
Define Areas of Greatest Product Management Impact
In your second month it’s time to figure out where you can have the greatest impact in your organization. Look back on the research you did in your first month.
Here’s some common areas where you can make a big impact early:
Help sales close deals
Create efficiencies in the development process
Increase throughput in the technology
Improve product quality
Bring the Voice of the Customer forward
While focusing on all of the above seems tempting, understand that if you spread yourself too thin, you’re committing to being mediocre everywhere.
Remember that work is never a forever commitment. Sales may need an emphasis in the current month, then you can devote attention to improvements with the development team in the following month. Watch your performance metrics and be prepared to make the appropriate pivot when it’s needed.
Create a Personal Development Plan
At 45 days into your first 90 days, begin writing a personal development plan. Identify the missing product management skills you need to succeed in your new role. Start thinking about how you’re going to develop them.
Perhaps it’s the first time you’re required to present to a board of directors on a regular basis. Think about the kind of board you’ve got and how to be as important to them as possible. What are their benchmarks? How do they define success? The same dynamic applies to addressing outside investors.
Do you need to acquire new skills in customer relations? Maybe it’s the first time you’ve had to pacify an angry customer and assure them an issue will be resolved. Getting a sense of how naturally this kind of negotiating skill comes to you should also be part of your personal development plan.
Even at this stage, it’s not too early to be getting input from the people around you to see if they’re getting from you what they need, and if not, what areas you need to improve or change.
If you need a little inspiration, here’s a few examples of great product management pioneers to emulate, including Lao Tzu and Alexander the Great.
Get a Reality Check on Product Management Progress
It’s been a busy 60 days. You’ve learned a lot, but you need to level-set with someone. Seek out a trusted friend or mentor outside of the organization. Give them your unfiltered reactions to your work in the new role and ask them for a reality check. Maybe your outlook on a particular issue needs a bit of tweaking, or there's some aspect of the job that you're overlooking. Your friend can be vital for identifying some simple ways to make a difference. My colleague and friend Bob Batcheler talks about how to find that just-right person in your network in this podcast.
Finding Trusted, Experienced Product Management Support
Suppose your reality check with that trusted outsider identifies some previously hidden challenges, or a need for continued objective feedback on product management.
We can help.
With more than 15 years in the field, Fortune’s Path offers fractional product leadership as well as product management consulting for SaaS organizations of all sizes. We work with healthcare, education, and SaaS businesses to put product management best practices to work. See what some of our customers say about our product management services. Or book a free discovery call to discuss the status of product management in your organization.