my PM uses a lot of numbers đ” design tea #25
Designers x Product Managers. Common challenges and how to work through them. Part 3/3.
Aarrghh forget numbers, just listen to me.
This is often how I felt with PMs when I was starting out.
Good PMs are articulate, can really sell a vision, and are armed with business numbers at the back of their hands.
So it can often feel like a very uphill battle to share your conflicting opinions or convince them to do what you feel is right.
Welcome back to part 3 of PM x Designer series. Letâs deep dive into this!
đŹ âMy PM uses a lot of numbersâ
Well if your PM uses a lot of numbers, you can use your superpower. As a designer, you can visualize your ideas.
It is incredibly powerful to be able to tie in everyoneâs ideas and imaginations in a bunch of wireframes.
So first of all, never underestimate your skill set. Ask yourself, what is that I do really well, and how can I do it better?
Second of all, if your PM uses a lot of numbers, so can you too?
A nice product guy gave me this tip to master business metrics numbers - follow the money.
How is your feature making money? What you need to do make more money? What happens if you donât make enough money. Study the funnel and all the key metrics that goes with it.
Third of all, reframe conversations to make sure you consider them from a userâs perspective.
âSure, I hear these numbers. For a while, letâs imagine an ideal scenario - how is it that we can be truly solving for our customerâs pain point?â
If when your PM speaks all you hear is number number number, donât run away or give up.
Ask them to explain. Make an effort to learn. But most of all, donât forget your superpowers.
đŹ âMy PM only cares about business metricsâ
âŠ.or sometimes it can also be my PM only cares about making money. Or acquiring more customers.
It can often feel the company is fixated on one key metric. All about growth or revenue or retention.
And when features are evaluated against companyâs current priorities, a lot of features that are good for the customer do not make the cut. Also, hello design debt?
How do you convince your company to invest in design initiatives that might not bring immediate revenue/users but set up the company for long-term success?
Try and build your roadmap with strategic and tactical bets. Tactical bets are ones that bring in and contribute to immediate/short-term impact, whereas strategic bets help keep the approach holistic.
Have an ongoing list of projects/tasks that your team can tackle during slow periods. Hello again design debt.
đŹ âScopes out all my favorite design features from MVPâ
Confession: I have never had a product manager scope out my favorite feature.
It is usually me scoping it out!
If you build a truly collaborative partnership with your team, it wouldnât be your designs or their MVP.
Itâs a team effort, and together you discuss pros and cons and come up with a MVP.
From the start, rebrand Minimum Viable Product â Minimum Lovable Product.
As a designer, it is equal responsibility to make sure we can test as fast as possible while making sure you are putting out something you are proud of.
If you relate to or love all the tea, consider sending me a DM here or sending this to your design besties or your PM! đ
đ My favorites this week
I am a long-form content girlie. So every few months I rediscover my love for Youtube.
Past week, I caught up with a lot of my all-time favorite creators. Especially their vlogs. I love vlogs because they donât try to teach. You can just absorb what you want from the 10-15 mins of them going through an experience.
Pick up Limes
Love her recipes, love her energy.
Chloe Shih
She is my favorite tech girlie on Youtube. Also editing on her videos omg. #goals.
Elizabeth Filips
I dig how she is not out there sharing the same productivity hacks every other white guy is. I love how personal and raw her advice feels.
Alanna & Ivor
Okay I judged her too early lol. I felt she might be too influenza/ bollywood drama, but I actually quite enjoyed her vlogs. Really chilled, and I like her vibes!
ADâs YouTube
I am on a mission to see all their home tours, but if I have to pick one for you, go see vanessaâs house!
Others that I love - Audrey Coyne, Niomi Smart, Dearly Bethany, Radhi Devlukia.
If you have favorite youtube channels can you share please??! I would love to expand!
Yasss, so YouTube channel reccosss: I love art vlogs and such, Frannerd is my absolute favourite. I like Sophie McPike as well (completely diff vibe though - sometimes she is too energetic for my liking but sometimes that's exactly what I need). I also like Furry little peach - art advice and nicely cut vlogs, look at the Wes Anderson style Tokyo vlog!