Working with Product Managers

Working with different types of Product Managers as a Tech Lead

The What

There are many types of Product Managers based on their product type, seniority, focused domain, etc.

Technical Product Manager

Has a strong technical background and works on a technical product. e.g., an API, a knowledge graph, a SaaS product, etc

Data Product Manager

Similar to Technical PM, but works on a data product, e.g., an ML model, a data pipeline, etc

Strategic Product Manager

has a strong business-oriented background, focus on product strategy, influencing, vision, etc

Project Product Manager

Has a strong project management background, focus on getting stuff done, lead a team to deliver business values, put deliverables to Gantt chart, etc

Growth Product Manager

Focus on optimising a product by analysing product metrics, driving conversion and retention

And more…

Service Manager, API Product Manager, Program Manager, AI Product Manager, etc

The How

As a Tech Lead, we should be able to work with all types of product managers and find the sweet spot to contribute to the team, and meanwhile, fill the gap if needed.

Daily Delivery

• Improve the delivery process via inspiring the dev team

• Balance the feature development and technical debt

• Get Product Manager buy in the technical roadmap

• Encourage the team to challenge decisions

  • Is it a good decision?

  • Does it make sense?

  • Any other ways to do so?

• Avoid transactional culture - specification, documentation, contract, estimation, etc

  • It works for the problem with a relatively concrete solution

  • Innovation is anti the transactional culture

People

• Share technical topics with the Product Manager (manage sideways)

• Encourage dev team to provide feedback to the Product Manager, and vice versa

• Soften the tension between Developers and UXers

🔴 Red Flags

• Focus on customer or sales support, BAU (What is the next big thing)

• Focus on the process rather than the outcome (We should prefer practice over process)

📜 Tips

• Set up a weekly catch-up

• Let the Product Manager know your tech roadmap

• Share the big rocks and potential risks, proactively take actions

• Pair with the Product Manager to deliver customer value

• Challenge things that don’t make sense (Speak up)

Refs

• The Different Types of Product Manager