6 Ways Product Managers Get Noticed (Plus, What Not to Do)

I bet you were the head of your class. People knew you for your smarts and ambition. But something changed between college and today. You are no longer the most talented person in the room because everyone in the room is talented. (At least, this is likely true if you work at a high-performing company.) And this is a good thing. Why?

Because you learn from being around people who have more experience than you do. You want to be in a job where you are surrounded by exceptionally capable people. You should be grateful to have such skilled colleagues.

But guess what? All those skilled colleagues can make it hard for you to stand out, especially if you are more of a behind-the-scenes kind of person.

You might especially be feeling this “lost in the crowd” pain if you are a product manager at a large company — where there are many other experienced product managers working alongside you.

This topic recently came up on Roadmap.com, an online community for product managers. Many commenters pointed out that there is actually a good and bad way to stand out.

The “bad” being when you turn work into a competition — distracting yourself with ego and one-upping. Sure, you might get recognized for being the loudest or most aggressive person in the room. But respect will not be yours.

How you measure your impact should not revolve around your image or being craftier than your teammates — it should be about effort, results, and how well you serve others.

Now, those are the values that should matter in a high-caliber organization. But I realize that not every company is like this. Maybe you are working somewhere that rewards managing perceptions much more than tangible outcomes. You can rise above and reject this mindset — making your mark in a way that will be respected and bring real value to the organization.

Here is what product managers need to show to make an impact in a meaningful way (and be noticed for it):

Goal-first Do you really understand the company’s purpose? How about the product goals? A goal-first mindset should influence every decision that you make. It is critical that you have total clarity. Stay focused on where the company and product is headed and why. And do not let any personal agendas (from others or even yourself) get in the way. Serve the meaningful goals of the company and typically good outcomes follow.

Conviction Goals will show you when you need to say “yes,” “no,” or “not right now” to a new idea or request. Stay true and do not let yourself be persuaded by “the-loudest-mouth-in-the-room” decrees or the salesperson who “needs a favor to close this deal.” Instead, be unwavering in your pursuit of building the very best product for customers. Aim for conviction with kindness.

Expert skills In order to do the best work possible, you need the right skills. Hone the ones you have and look to grow where you are lacking. This might mean taking an online class, giving yourself a daily reading assignment, or asking a more experienced colleague to give you feedback on work in progress. And if you are the more experienced colleague, offer up your own skills so you can help your teammates be their best.

Reliability Show your teammates that they can count on you. Arrive to meetings on time, do what you say you will, and respond quickly to requests. But even more important — follow through with the big plans. Avoid hiding behind shifting dates. Deliver planned releases and features in the timeline that you first promised.

Curiosity If you want to be noticed, you need to notice others. Get to know as many people in your company as you can, at all levels and on all teams. And try to have conversations that go deeper than the occasional inquiry into weekend plans. Ask your teammates about what they are working on. What is frustrating them and what is exciting them? What do they want to achieve beyond the task at hand?

Drama-free This all goes back to standing out in the right way. Do not amplify problems at work by feeding into gossip or drama. Instead, be the answer to workplace problems — doing your best to create a positive workplace and helping your teammates do the same.

The best way to stand out among many is to be the one who consistently produces meaningful results and helps others do the same.

So, understand the plan and get work done. Remember that, especially in a big company, you cannot do this on your own. You need to help your teammates bring their best each day — focusing everyone on the goals and how to achieve them.

Together you can build something that customers love. And you will be loved for it.

What do you do to stand out at work? And what do you avoid?

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