Product Management = Ego Management

There's an inside joke among some of my product manager friends that Product Management is really just Ego Management. Let me explain -

A product manager is an individual who has no formal authority to make decisions regarding the business. They do not manage any resources, and in a sales-driven organization, they lack the authority to drive business development, marketing, or sales. Additionally, they do not control the budget and typically do not possess legal expertise. They also rely heavily on engineers for delivery.

Despite these constraints, a product manager is responsible for turning ideas into reality and generating revenue through product sales. With no formal authority, a product manager must collaborate with various stakeholders to succeed at every step. This collaborative nature of the role is not just a necessity, it's a strength. Each stakeholder has their own agenda, and the product manager's skill lies in effectively managing these differing agendas and egos to build, deliver, and generate revenue for the product.

This ability is often overlooked, but it's one of the most crucial skill sets for a product manager.