10 Things Every Product Manager Should Do in Their First 30 Days at a New Company
Whether you're starting out in this position or adding it to your existing product-oriented career, the first few weeks at a new company can be both exhilarating and overwhelming.
It's crucial to have a plan in place to make the most of this time and set yourself and your product up for success.
You have a new role as a Product Manager! Congratulations.
Here are 10 essential tips to guide you through this period:
- Connect with your team and understand the process:
- Schedule meetings with everyone to get an overview of their roles and responsibilities.
- Engage in conversations with your team, peers, and stakeholders to gather insights and assess what's working and what's not.
- Embrace coffee breaks, lunches, or walks to get to know your colleagues better.
- Learn the existing process:
- Ask questions to understand the complexities of the product development process and how things have been operating before your arrival.
- Avoid rushing to change things immediately and reserve judgment until you have a deeper understanding of the context.
- Hold off on immediate judgments:
- Avoid jumping to conclusions or proposing immediate solutions without understanding the history and reasons behind existing practices.
- Allow yourself time to familiarize yourself with the landscape and gather insights from your new coworkers.
- Take detailed notes:
- Document your conversations and learnings for future reference and to share with others who may benefit from the information.
- Utilize your fresh perspective:
- Leverage your newness to view the product from a customer's perspective without preconceived biases or assumptions.
- Interact with the product and customers to gain valuable insights.
- Attend customer calls:
- Sit in on sales, support, and success calls to understand how your colleagues interact with customers.
- Gain insights into customer needs, missing product features, and potential improvements.
- Conduct customer interviews:
- Engage with customers directly to gather their perspectives and understand their experiences.
- Ask about their motivations for purchasing the product and how their needs have evolved over time.
- Evaluate the landscape:
- Understand your role within the organization and the level of influence you have over the product.
- Analyze the competition and market space to align your product strategy with company goals and customer needs.
- Measure and iterate:
- Identify the metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with the company's strategic goals.
- Assess the current data infrastructure and consider how it can be leveraged to inform future decision-making.
- Engage with communities:
- Join relevant communities and networking groups where your customers gather.
- Gain insights into customer problems and preferences, as well as staying informed about market trends.
“Product management is about relationships. When you start at a new company, meet with as many people as you can.”
By following these steps, you'll gain a deeper understanding of your team, customers, product landscape, and work processes. However, remember that this is just the beginning. The foundation you establish in the first 30 days will extend into the next 90 days as a product manager. Embrace the journey and continue building upon your early successes.