Progressions for Product Management

Many ways for Product Managers to progress. Here's one:

1. Small Team, Execution -> Define goals, ship impact.

2. Small Team, Product Sense -> Steer team to solve for the right set of customer problems.

3. Cross-Team, Strategy -> Align PMs on one strategy, with clear execution path to outcome.

4. Vertical Leadership -> Build strategic frameworks guiding others to impact. Set objectives, resolve escalations. Build PM Careers.

5. Org Leadership -> Define vision, mission. Shape org structure to deliver top line results.
   

Notes:

• Have a progression -- don't count on luck for growth. 

• Each step builds on last. Never stop practicing foundations.

• New domain? Start at 1. Senior PMs stretch from 1 to 5 fast.

• Size of team isn't always indicator of growth. Large teams can slow your growth. Optimise for impact to mission/vision, not team size/ego.

• Founders hack it by progressing backwards.