Learn how to fine-tune your perspective on Product Management

We’re always looking for new opportunities to learn, but also to give out know-how. Especially when it comes to educating the future generations, the change-makers, the innovators.

Today’s article is for your development. This interview exists for you to make the most out of it in terms of broadening your perspective. Sometimes we get lost in the simplest of things. And that is why we invited Alexandru Bogdan, our dear Co-Founder here at Linnify, a determined visionary involved in several start-ups and projects in the tech industry to bring more clarity in what Product Management means to him.

Alexandru Bogdan has an innate ability to bring remarkable people together and set the environment to enhance their full potential. His role is to help Linnify achieve its goals and empower everyone that is part of the journey. He has a solid background in tech product strategy and development. 

His striking ideas may seem eccentric for others at the beginning. But through this way of being, he gathered unique experiences that facilitated his evolution into an expert in the field of Product and Strategy Development. 

They also make him fall into the typology of a serial entrepreneur but it comes so naturally to him that he probably doesn’t even know it. But let’s store some new know-how now:

1.So, Alex, what weighs most for you when thinking about product management?

'The most important part is the customer. Also, you need to understand them and shape the product as clearly as possible. The simpler and easier it is, the faster customers will understand what it offers. 

If you keep this in mind in the process, you will be able to widen your target audience and increase your product's chances of success.'

'Simplifying matters brings clarity and focus.'

2.And why does that weigh so much to have it mentioned as a first? 

'There’s this tendency to create a product with too many features. 

You might be tempted to think that, with just that one extra feature, your product will be successful. But then a brand new one more extra feature can happen at any time, right? 

A gradual plan for your product development will give you the opportunity to visualize the progress and become satisfied with the product’s growth per phase.

The thirst to over-feature comes through too much external comparison and too little awareness of the initial plan. Because frankly, you are going off-track from your initial plan when you start wanting to implement too many too soon.'

'The reasoning behind your core functionalities, and overall progress, should always be based on the market needs. Always keep the customer in mind.'

'The building process is perpetual, and you are subject to adaptability every day in many ways already. There will always be new ways to improve the product. 

Yet, if you find the power to follow the agreed-upon and market-research-documented direction in your decision-making process, you’ll make your life much easier.

Use that as a guide in how to smartly prioritize the features needed in the process of development.'

3.What’s your approach and advice on this, given your experience in multiple start-ups with unique products in the making?

'What is important for anyone to understand is that the perfect product doesn't exist and that striving for perfection is an ongoing process that never ends.

So, stop over-engineering and focus on building solid foundations by starting small and continuously iterating. And always keep in mind your customers. 

They are offering you a controlled and frequent reality check because after all the market is the one that dictates if your product will live or die. Gather feedback, analyze it, and find the product-market fit that can push your product to the next level.'

4.So what you mean is to know when and what to put to rest until further notice?

'Yes, you will, most of the time, have to put aside the thirst of implementing every new idea that comes to mind right then and there.

And you will have to get comfortable with that due to logical functionality factors. 

And why is that really?'

'Because even if you could see in the future and know for sure what would be the very best decision to make, you’d still need to prioritize your work well enough to get there.'

5.As a Product Manager, how do you see the relationship between the product and the team?

'Here, comes the important matter of understanding your product: what it needs, how it moves, and who would be appropriate to understand it and support it along the way. 

I believe it is essential to create an ecosystem of appropriate people with whom you can constantly check in to see how they resonate with the product, as it transforms in time.'

'Check to see if they feel they’re on the right path. 

Check to see if any of them feels things are too complicated or too far-reaching for the moment of the product creation.' 

'As with the market, the right team can make or break a project. I was discussing with an accelerator Co-Founder and he mentioned something that I find true every day. There are a lot of billion-dollar ideas out there, the part missing is the team to transform them into reality.

Setting the team up might seem difficult sometimes, especially if you lack expertise and understanding in specific areas.'

'That is exactly why you need people with complementary skills and personalities that can offer you a different perspective.'

6.What's one thing you wanted to be told when you first started?

'Invest as much time as needed in the market and user research. Skipping these steps creates room for impeding effects in the long run in terms of substantial unpremeditated changes and overall efforts.

Also, a good be careful of falling too much in love with your product it’s always useful to hear because you might miss opportunities by not thinking clearly.' 

'After all, you are building a product for the customers and not for yourself.'

'Imagine there are multiple courses of action and maybe, to get on the right one, you only need to make a side step. That’s what I mean by pivoting when necessary.'

'To be more comfortable and in control of those decisions, create a goal list and a roadmap of the product.' 

'Create feasibility checks for each of these steps: from ideation to discovery, building, and scaling. The purpose of these validations is to transpose the reality of your product into data that is easier to analyze and make decisions upon.

If the direction is not the right one, pivot to a different one. Stay smart and efficient with your resources. Especially time, which is the most scarce.'

7.We keep on talking about the team. But who is your team really? 

'You might be tempted to say that your team is the people you are working with, the product team. For me, that is only a side of the story. 

Your team also includes the people that are involved in your life: your family, your spouse, and your friends, as they are indirectly having an impact on the product.

Put it this way, if you have a good day at home are you more likely to have a good day at work?

Be mindful that you and each of your colleagues are the people they are today due to their environment and the people around them. This will help you be more aware of what is driving each member of the product team to move forward.'

8.What would a team-oriented piece of advice for the Product Managers sound like?

'Be open-minded and transparent with your team. You all share a common goal and that’s creating an innovative product. Share with them both the good and the bad news.' 

'You are on the same ship and the only way to sail it is together.'

'Your four best friends when it comes to supporting your team are: 

1. Listen - go beyond just hearing the words
2. Observe - refurbish your overview often, the only constant is change
3. Understand - empathy is a must 
4. Guide - take responsibility for the influence you have as a designer of the progress

It might seem mundane, but,

‘it’s the simple question of “how can I be there for you to make this run better?” that can fuel up the shared-energy tank to boost up each member collectively.’

'There’s a lot out there in the unknown unknowns section. No matter how aware you are as a Product Manager, in order to succeed you need to understand your team and have it by your side.'

'No product is built alone.'

9.So what’s the secret of actually making it through?

'There’s no recipe for success, but one very important quality that you need to master in order to succeed in today's world is adaptability to change.

In a world where innovation happens every day you might sometimes feel that to stay one step ahead you need to be on 24/7. But even a machine has a limited amount of fuel after which it stops.'

'The secret is to find solutions that replace working harder with working smarter and to keep calm.'

'Maintain your composure and tackle each challenge on its own.'

10.A final thought for the Product Managers in the making?

‘You’re the enabler, you’re not supposed to do it all by yourself. And you shouldn’t.'

'We all have our unique set of individualities, and that’s why, you, as a conductor, should continuously broaden your perspective and sharpen your clarity, to know how to augment your team’s authentic skills.'

'That’s when real magic comes to life. 

And since we’ve tackled matters regarding the team, the silent dangers, and bettering yourself as a Product Manager, I will leave you with this to ask yourself. 

There is a fine line between management and micro-management, so, be honest:

'What brings more value: authentically delivered performance or over-the-shoulder watched performance?'

'Guide your team well. 

You got this.'

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If you’re interested in product management from a start-up perspective, Alexandru Bogdan has been invited to ClujStartUps. On the 8th of June 2021, he will tackle this subject even more in-depth. Save the date.

Get insightful advice and become the best version of yourself as a Product Manager. 

Stay tuned.