Product Manager's self-review: am I doing my job?
It's performance review time at work! The time of the year when we reflect on accomplishments in the last 6 months and present a case for a good performance evaluation.
As a Product Manager, we don't work in isolation. We corral teams to achieve outcomes by providing direction. I've often struggled to find a simple template to review what I do in my day-to-day since its easy to get trapped in projects details (or meetings).
Learning to see the forest through the trees holds true for a product strategy but also for your career. Here's an easy template to check-in with yourself (and your manager) on the progress being made on the job.
1: Strategy
Product strategy is foundational.
This takes form of a team mission statement, vision for where the product could be in the next 3-5 years, and a roadmap for the next 3-6months or 1 year out.
Strategy also takes other forms - identifying new processes, new areas of opportunities or areas of concern that need to be addressed.
Reviewing plans with leadership teams every month helps gather feedback and ensures the product strategy aligns with company direction and goals.
2: Execution
Getting stuff done.
Once roadmap items have been identified, are projects shipping on time? Are they meeting the established goals? Are they all collectively helping make progress towards the aforementioned strategy?
3: Collaboration within team(s)
PM's job is very collaborative.
What's the working model like with designers, engineers, data scientists, user researchers, product marketing managers and other product managers and partners from outside the core team. How are those relationships? Do folks feel empowered to also drive the product strategy?
4: Broader company contributions
A PM can be influential in building company culture.
This could take form of building micro communities within product group, leading all hands, or hiring new folks into the organization. It helps to stay connected to the company mission and bond with other members from across the company.
Set aside time every 4-6 weeks to review this doc. It has helped me stay accountable and challenged (or not).
Good luck!