Today we’re going to take a look at how to be a product hero. Oh its all the rage. What with modern tech companies full of ninjas rockstars and gurus, we thought there was a place for heroes too.
Whether you’ve got your eye on a potential hire for the position, or you think that product hero might be you, we’ve got some tips for how to be the become a product hero. The good news is that these tips can be implemented without having your parents murdered ala Batman, or your planet destroyed like Superman. You be you. So read them closely, or share them with the appropriate product manager, but whoever’s reading is about to find out how to become the best product hero they can be.
1. Use Human Capital Management Software
Using human capital management software is one of the best ways for you to keep track of your employees. Human capital management software looks at people (employees) as assets and tracks their value and assesses their talent. It sort of sounds like a cold and impersonal way to assess your team, but in addition to the saying “time is money,” it’s widely understood that people are money too, and the sooner you feel comfortable putting a price tag next to their name, the sooner you have a good idea of the wealth of your team. It’s like how Batman has a contingency plan in case any Superheroes step out of line. You make sure that you keep your team feeling valued and performing valuably.
There is one thing your product strategy might still be missing.
2. Be a good communicator
Not only is it important for a product hero to communicate with their team, they also need to communicate with other teams in the company and with the outside world. A huge portion of being a communicator is being a good listener, so be sure to keep that in mind. Aquaman who commands the denizens of the deep excels at this. The clearer you are able to be with your team, and the more you listen to them, the better they will work and the quicker they will get things done. One tip is to not think that communication can be done only face to face. You can communicate with your team online too, don’t underestimate the value of online applications like Skype for keeping everyone in the loop.
3. Technical understanding helps you become a Product Hero
While it’s important to understand the technical workings of your product, there are plenty of great product managers that don’t come from the tech world. You don’t need a PhD in engineering, but you do need to know how your product works, both for your own good, and so that you can explain it to others. So whether it’s watching youtube videos or getting your team to explain a complicated process to you for hours on end, it’s important to know what’s going on. Geek out a little bit until you have a perfect understanding of every step along the way. Mr. Terrific from the old JSA comics has “a natural aptitude for having natural aptitudes” if you can get a piece of that you will be well on your way.
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We hope that this article helped you figure out what it takes to be a product hero. The quicker that you acquire these skills, the quicker you’ll be on your way to improving your company from the inside out. There’s no denying that management is a tough position, and that everyone isn’t cut out for it, which is why not everyone is one. But guides like this should be able to help you along the way and before you know it, you’ll be pedaling with no training wheels and managing things all on your own. Best of luck!