Joining a new PM team or your first 90 days? Adopt the Right Attitude to Collaborate Effectively

What happened this week?

This week, a new product manager joined my team, prompting me to reflect on what I could expect from this product manager during the first 90 days. Not only in terms of technical skills, as I thoroughly questioned him 😃 during the interview, but more importantly considering his attitude.

Having witnessed both successful and challenging transitions in newcomers' first 90 days, I've compiled what we seek when someone joins our product team.

Now, let's delve into the details!

Why your first 90 days as a PM is so critical?

Lone wolf product managers handle everything; team leaders set direction. Now, associate managers can struggle to define their role. Success means earning engineering peers' trust.

In large organizations, there are a lot more matrix challenges. The idea is to contribute strategically, overcome imposter syndrome, and uncover blind spots with a newcomer's perspective to add value and establish your role.

1- Ignore past product decisions and focus on the future

There’s no linear and perfect decision in any company. So when joining a new company, it's important not to criticize past work, especially without an established successful record, as this could alienate colleagues who invested time and effort. However, newcomers can capitalize on their unique position to ask questions and understand the current situation.

2- Show extreme curiosity and don’t judge (just yet)

In your initial 90 days, approach exploration with curiosity rather than judgment, avoiding challenging assumptions too early, to gain a comprehensive understanding.

• 🤔 Approach exploration with curiosity, not judgment.

• 📝 Focus on fact-finding and understanding the current product, customer usage, and vision.

• 🧠 Keep criticisms and ideas to yourself initially to maintain a positive image.

• 🌍 Gain a broader perspective on operations and gather input from various stakeholders.

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