![]() ![]() This mindset is incompatible with the up-and-up march toward CEO. Satisfaction with anything less is indicative of a lack of ambition.īut what happens if somewhere along the line you discover that you’re climbing someone else’s ladder or just that you’re done climbing and happy to stay on your current rung? What if you really love being a product manager and want to do more and better product work? And let’s not overlook those who choose a balanced life outside of work or would like to start a family or leave the profession for a while to become a primary caregiver to a child or loved one. Product management has largely been seen as an intermediate step on a route to something loftier. But the expectation is always that you keep moving up. There are other variations for sure, maybe becoming a general manager with P&L responsibilities or continuing as a CPO but at increasingly more consequential organizations. The discomfort is because the widely assumed career path for PMs is quite simple and looks something like this: ![]() I empathize because I felt exactly the same way, especially after reaching the group product manager (GPM) level at Google. The pandemic has accelerated this trend as many more product managers begin to look inward and confront the ways in which their careers aren’t aligned with what brings them fulfillment. These are statements I’ve heard from coaching clients, friends, and colleagues over the years. Soon I’ll be forced to choose between tapping out or trying to become someone I’m not.” This is incompatible with the hard-charging ‘own the room’ behavior that is valued in directors at my company. □ “I have a collaborative, humble, and lead-from-behind style. But I can’t be seen as stepping backward.” I realize there’s very little ‘product’ to the job: I’m mostly a bureaucrat. I wish I was still doing their job, and I regret being promoted. □ “As a director, I’m constantly jealous of the product managers on my team. But I like my job and want to keep doing it.” I’m ten years in, and I’m still an individual contributor (IC). □ “I can’t help feeling like my career has stalled. □ “My VP’s feedback is always through the lens of performing at the next level, but I’m happy where I am, which is frustrating.” Am I behind? Will I risk being seen as unambitious?” □ “I look at my peers, and they’re all directors and VPs. It’s Time to Fight for a Dual Product Management Career Path Companies should embrace multitrack job ladders for product managers who prefer product leadership to people management By Ken Norton ![]()
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