January's top product management content - Mind the Product

With the first month of the year done and dusted already, here’s a look at our most-read posts for January 2023.

How will ChatGPT change product management?

Our top read this month takes a look at the likely impact of the latest AI bot ChatGPT on product work. We look at its strengths and limitations, how it could be used in product development and we talk to product people who are using it right now.

We also ask the bot itself what it thinks its impact on product managers will be.

How will ChatGPT change product management?

Product management books to read in 2023

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to read a bit more? Then help is at hand – another of January’s top reads was a run through of product management books that should be on your reading list this year.

We’ve listed must-read standard texts, practical guides on research methods, advice for first-time managers, advice on hiring product people and more. We’re pretty sure there will be something that addresses your product management problem somewhere on the list.

Product management books to read in 2023

Four growth lessons I’ve learned from the best product managers

This post from Alexey Zanin, Product Manager at Meta, shares the four main lessons that he’s learned from working with the best product managers.

Alexey says the secret to the fastest growth is to be just outside of your circle of competence. Go too far, and you won’t be able to learn, as you will constantly fail; stay inside, and there’s no growth, it’s just the routine.

You should also understand your blind spots, seek feedback, create space for your thoughts and monitor yourself. Alexey suggests keeping a decision journal so that you can analyse and understand your thinking at a later date.

Four growth lessons I’ve learned from the best product managers

The most important soft skills for product managers

This post from one-time head of product Assaph Mehr delves into the most important soft skills for product managers. Assaph says that product managers need to organise, communicate and take ownership.

He offers lots of practical advice on how best to organise your time and your information. He also points out that 80% of communication is listening and building empathy. His post has lots of tips and candid advice on how to improve your communication.

Ownership is, says Assaph, about knowing why, being humble and following through. You should know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you should leave your ego at the door, and deliver on your promises.

The most important soft skills for product managers

How to find out what your customers want by Janet Bumpas

Our final top read for January is a talk from ProductTank Oslo in which product consultant and coach Janet Bumpas explains the key aspect of a product hero: building a product that customers love.

Janet explains that customers don’t always want more features, but what they say and what they want can be two different things. Customers will lie to you.

She offers some great examples of how to work out what customers want from her own experiences and emphasises that you should always validate your product in the market.

How to find out what your customers want by Janet Bumpas