A Day in the Life of a Product Manager - What do PMs do?

If you have stumbled upon this post, you're probably either curious about what a Product Manager does or you're considering a career in Product Management.

So, what exactly does a Product Manager's daily routine entail? 🤔

Before I dive into all the details, let me tell you that no two days look the same. 

In fact, I’ll even take the liberty to say that all 5 workdays in a week can look quite different.

As a Product Manager especially building a 0 to 1 product, the day depends on where you are in the product life cycle. 

📌 While you are in the ideation and market research stage most of the work entails speaking to people (aka potential users), and partners, doing market research, reading etc. The core objective is to identify a pinching problem statement.

📌 When you are in the build phase you are mostly coordinating with the design and tech team, bringing to life solutions that put your users at peace. 

📌 And when you are in the sales phase you are mostly working or figuring out the distribution channels for the product.

With that said, let’s jump straight into a typical day in my life as a Product Manager. 👇

🎯 Everyday Morning Standup

My day as a Product Manager starts with a morning stand-up meeting with the product team. 

It includes not just product managers but also our talented design and tech teams. 

This daily ritual helps us synchronise our efforts and align our goals. 

We share updates on our ongoing tasks, discuss what transpired yesterday, outline our plans for the day, and assess the overall progress for the week. 

If there are any roadblocks, this is where we address them collaboratively. 

These meetings typically wrap up within about 30 minutes.

🎯 Connecting with the Tech Team

Following our team huddle, my focus often shifts to discussions with the tech team, especially when we're in the process of bringing a new feature or design to life. 

This phase involves delving deep into the Product Requirements Document (PRD). 

We dissect what the feature should be, identify the problems it aims to solve and craft the user journey. 

🎯 Collaborating with the Design Team

After productive discussions with the tech team, our talented designers swing into action to turn our ideas into a visually appealing reality. 

As a Product Manager, I play a crucial role in enabling them by providing guidance and feedback. 

The objective is to ensure that the user experience aligns seamlessly with our vision for the product. 🌟

🎯 Afternoon Grind

Post-lunch, the afternoon is typically dedicated to planning and researching new features. 

This phase involves speaking with users, conducting thorough market research, and carefully analysing the feedback we've received. 

We aim to pinpoint which features are not only important but also necessary. 

It's at this stage that we get into the nitty-gritty details. 

For example, if a payment feature is to be integrated, we ask questions like,  

• What the payment mode should be?
• How can we make the payment process smooth and user-friendly?
• How will the system handle failed payments or transaction errors? 
• What encryption and security measures will be in place?

All this valuable information is meticulously documented and reviewed, serving as the blueprint for our tech and design teams.

🎯 Tackling Ad hoc issues

Sometimes, the afternoon is peppered with ad-hoc meetings and calls. 

This is where having an all-around context of the product helps in making timely decisions for quick resolutions. 

These range from quick alignment calls within the product team to discussions with the sales team. 

Having that broader perspective enables me to be adaptable and address unforeseen issues efficiently.

This also has a big effect on how I manage time. 

As someone on a manager's schedule, Product Managers need to be okay working in a slot between two adjacent meetings, ensuring we make the most of our available time.

Being able to pivot between these unplanned situations and structured appointments is essential in our role.

🎯 Focused Work

As a Product Manager, it's essential to set aside focused work time. 

You see, my job involves steering the product in the right direction, and it's not always crystal clear. 

We've had instances where we needed to pivot from a feature development-focused team to a more sales-oriented one. 

Making sure everyone's on the same page and driving that shift is a top priority.

Then, there's the challenge of getting users on board.

It's one thing to build something but quite another to distribute it effectively. 

Navigating this entire pipeline can be quite complex and requires careful consideration.

📌 By setting aside uninterrupted time, I can delve into market research, analyse user feedback, and plan steps to reach our target audience.

So, having dedicated focused work time helps me make these critical decisions that can impact the product's success. 

I’m still available for the team but I also schedule blocks of time on my calendar specifically to tackle smaller tasks that might take just 10 to 15 minutes. 

Now these are the trickiest of the lot because of constant context switching. 

If a task isn't a top priority, I simply reschedule it for another day.

Before I wrap up, I always take a few moments to plan for the next day.

This involves reviewing my calendar and identifying any crucial meetings or deadlines.  🗓️

I also make sure to address any pending items and prioritise them for the following day. 

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As you can see the role of a Product Manager involves active participation in several key areas such as:

• Team Coordination
• User-Centric Planning
• Documentation
• Adaptability

📌 It’s important to note that this role evolves with the product and the needs of the team.

Also, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a priority for Product Managers like me.

One aspect that contributes to this balance is the remote work setup at Nuclei. 

This flexibility allows me to structure my days and manage time efficiently.

Additionally, as a remote company, we understand the importance of team bonding. 

We regularly schedule one-on-one calls and team meetings to foster connections. 

Now these interactions go beyond work discussions; they help create a supportive and collaborative work environment, even from a distance.

My 2 cents for Aspiring Product Managers

Read a lot!

This might seem like a simple piece of advice, but it's incredibly powerful in the world of product management.

Here’s how building a reading habit helps you: 👇

☑️ Constant Access to New Insights: 

New technologies, market trends, user behaviours, and competitors emerge regularly. 

By reading extensively, you expose yourself to these new and often unfiltered insights. 

This keeps you in the loop about what's happening in your industry and beyond.

☑️ Understanding the Context: 

Accessing information is just the first step. 

The next critical aspect is understanding it and placing it in context. 

As a Product Manager, you'll often encounter raw data, user feedback, market reports, and industry news. 

Your ability to make sense of this information and connect the dots is what sets you apart. 

You need to grasp not only what's happening but why it matters and how it could impact your product.

☑️ Effective Communication: 

Once you've understood these insights, you have the responsibility to pass them forward to your team, stakeholders, and decision-makers. 

Effective communication is at the heart of product management. 

You need to convey complex ideas, trends, and strategies in a clear and understandable way. 

Wrapping it Up

And this is what a day in my life as a Product Manager looks like. 😄

The trick here is - you need to wear multiple hats, but not at the same time.

But here's the exciting part – while the role does come with its share of obstacles, it's incredibly fulfilling. 🌟

Each day brings new challenges, opportunities, and exciting discoveries.

If you're intrigued by the world of Product Management and are considering it as a career, I'm here to help. 

Having been on both sides of the interview table, I can guide you on your career journey.

Let’s hop on a free 1:1 call where we'll discuss the role, dive deeper into any questions or uncertainties you have, and map out the journey to becoming a Product Manager. 

I'm excited to share my experiences, insights, and guidance with you. 🚀

Related:

A Day in the Life of a Computer Scientist at Adobe

A Day in the Life of a Lead Software Engineer at Unacademy