Sergey Syrvachev’s Post

Every great product leader knows that saying ‘no’ is just as important as saying ‘yes.’ The biggest wins come from focusing on what truly matters. 

A key relationship you need to be a successful Product Leader: A trusted advisor or mentor, ideally within your own organization. Somebody you can - bounce back ideas with - work through challenges - turn to when you really don't have any ideas of what you should do. But how do you find them? Brian Fugere: "You always have to be on the lookout for them. It's like accumulating or collecting them over time. You know, these little treasures that you find along the way, and you stick in your pocket and hold on to them, you nurture those relationships over the years. You check in with them, you bounce an idea off of them. They do the same thing. It's important to maintain and keep those relationships active because you never know when you're going to need to ask somebody for advice. One of my most trusted peers that I talked to all the time, I just met a year ago, but we hit it off immediately. He's been a longtime product person as well. He thinks about things from a slightly different angle than I do, and it's been great because it gives me a different perspective." Do you have a mentor you can trust? What was the best advice you received from them? 

Story of the Day The "shark in the tank" story in Japanese folklore is about fishermen who, to keep their catch fresh during long voyages, would put a small shark into their fish tanks on the boat; the shark's presence forced the other fish to constantly swim, keeping them lively and tasting fresh upon arrival on land, illustrating the idea that a little healthy competition or challenge can keep people motivated and performing at their best. The Product Manager being like a shark captures the essence of the role in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Just like a shark, a Product Manager must be agile, constantly moving, and adapting to changes in the market, customer demands, and competitor behaviors. They need to stay ahead of the curve, always seeking opportunities and anticipating challenges. Moreover, similar to a shark leading the way in its ecosystem, the Product Manager guides their internal team, ensuring they remain motivated, aligned with the product vision, and focused on delivering the best possible outcomes. Their leadership fosters a sense of purpose, driving performance and innovation within the team.

Product manager in Different Perspective: 1.Multi Disciplined 2.A leader & an influencer, without authority 3.Makers 4.Building the right thing vs building the thing right 5.Divergent/convergent thinkers 6.Pragmatism (in sprinkles) 7.Trust their experts for their expertise 8.Trust their experts for their expertise

If you are a product leader, and you find yourself spending brain cycles worrying about whether to give people product manager vs. product owner titles, one of 2 things is wrong: 1. Your organization has dumbed you down, or 2. You got there all by yourself. You are either trying to accelerate growth (profitably), or reverse declines. Focus your teams on the things that matter!

Collaboration is key!

As a product manager, I've lost count of the years I've spent trying to understand how to represent a product strategy, let alone craft one. It always felt like product strategy was something amazing product leaders did, but I couldn't replicate it. This was even tougher because most examples out there were so far away from my reality - I am looking at you  Gibson Biddle talking about Netflix's strategy. I wrote an article to help other product leaders like me who are stuck on how to craft a product strategy. The URL is in the comments section.

"The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action, an unconventional business strategy, a unique product development roadmap, a controversial marketing campaign, even as the rest of the world wonders why you're not marching in step with the status quo. In other words, they understand that in an era of hyper-competition and non-stop disruption, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special." Bill Taylor. Keep in mind that great desicions are made from the bad desicions from your past. Every lesson learned from every mistake that you have made, has given you the wisdom to make better choices to pave a better path for a brighter future. Cheers! #foodforthought

A letter from your future self: Dear product leader, Have you been skipping the gym because work is stressful? Product blockers causing you to neglect taking care of yourself? All PMs and Product Leaders would do a better job if they prioritized their health like a product. I used to be there. Then I realized my prioritization was all wrong. My effectiveness slowly dropped off a cliff during a time that I neglected my own health. And the product suffered as a result. The product only succeeds when the people building it are healthy. There are 100s of decisions to make when shipping quality product. The quality of the decision making that goes on is a function of the decision maker(s)'s health and foundation. You know this intuitively: your decision making ability is best when YOU are at your best. Those 100s of micro-decisions accumulate into a great customer experience. It bleeds into the fabric of how and what you build. And it all starts with your health. I believe all PMs and product leaders should be focused on their boundaries, their health, their wellbeing. Your team, product, and customers (and family) will thank you for playing the long game. Best, Your future self ♻️ Reshare if this resonates with you Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

🚀 Introducing My New Series: "What I Learn from Ramayana - POV Product Manager" The Ramayana is not just an epic tale; it's a treasure trove of wisdom that transcends time. As a Product Manager, I often find parallels between the challenges and triumphs in the Ramayana and the world of product development. Over the next 7 days, I'll be sharing insights inspired by this timeless epic, through the lens of a Product Manager. Join me on this journey as we explore lessons in leadership, strategy, and teamwork. Here’s Day 1 to get us started! Day 1: The Power of Vision – Lessons from Lord Ram In the Ramayana, Lord Ram embodies clarity and purpose. He knew his journey and stayed true to his vision, even in the face of countless challenges. As a Product Manager, having a clear vision is our North Star. It's what aligns the team, inspires stakeholders, and drives products toward success. Whether it's solving a customer pain point or launching a new feature, a well-defined vision ensures we stay on track amidst the chaos. What does your product’s North Star look like? Share your thoughts below! #ProductManagement #Leadership #Ramayana