FUN FACT: With the Olympics just around the corner, here’s an Olympic-themed fun fact: Did you know that tug-of-war was once an official Olympic sport? It was featured in five Olympic Games between 1900 and 1920, with Great Britain and the United States dominating the medal count.
“There is nothing I dislike more in the world than people who care more about ideology than they do about people.”
Yesterday, I experienced something that made me reflect on the nature of public opinion and its parallels to product management. As a member of a large Slack group for technology managers, I often offer advice and free coaching sessions to those seeking guidance. It's my way of giving back to the community and, yes, potentially connecting with new clients if they find value in our initial interactions.
However, one of my responses offering help was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. A thread erupted, criticizing my approach as overly commercial and inappropriate. People I'd never interacted with began piling on, making assumptions about my intentions and character. Despite my attempts to explain, the situation spiraled out of control.
As I sat there, feeling a mix of embarrassment, shame, and frustration, I was reminded of a quote from Jon Ronson's book, "So You've Been Publicly Shamed":
"There is nothing I dislike more in the world than people who care more about ideology than they do about people."
This incident, while personal, got me thinking about the world of product management and the challenges we face daily.
In product management, everyone has an opinion (SWAG that every Product Manager should have on their desk). Stakeholders, team members, and even random individuals on the internet all have ideas about what features are most important, which markets to pursue, or how the product should evolve. It's easy to get caught up in this cacophony of voices, each shouting their version of the "right" direction.
But here's the thing: just like in my Slack group incident, the loudest voices aren't always the most relevant ones.
In product management, what truly matters is what the customers want and need. Not what the CEO thinks is cool, not what the engineering team finds interesting to build, and certainly not what random commenters on Product Hunt believe is essential.
The parallel to my Slack experience is striking. The person who originally asked for advice never complained about my offer to help. It was others, uninvolved and unaffected, who decided to share their opinions and pass judgment.
As product managers, we must remember to focus on the voices that matter most: our users and customers. We need to filter out the noise and concentrate on the signal. This doesn't mean ignoring all feedback or opinions, but it does mean weighing them appropriately and always coming back to the core question: "Does this serve our users' needs?"
It's easy to get sidetracked by loud voices or popular opinions. But just as I learned (or re-learned) yesterday, the path to success isn't paved with universal approval. It's built on understanding and serving your core audience.
So, the next time you're in a product meeting and everyone's throwing out ideas, or when you're scrolling through feedback and see a particularly vocal critic, take a step back. Ask yourself:
Who is this opinion coming from?
How closely does this align with our users' needs?
Is this feedback representative of our target audience?
Remember, your job isn't to please everyone. It's to create a product that solves real problems for your users. Sometimes, that means making decisions that not everyone will agree with or understand.
As for me, I'll continue offering help in my Slack group (though I’ll be more careful with my wording), focusing on those who appreciate and benefit from it. Because at the end of the day, it's not about winning a popularity contest. It's about making a positive impact, one interaction at a time.
In both product management and life, stay true to your purpose, focus on those you're trying to serve, and don't let the noise drown out the signal. Your users - and your conscience - will thank you for it.
Break a Pencil,
PS: If you enjoyed this, please share with others. Any and all referrals are always appreciated.
Content Recommendation
What happened to me is nothing compared to some of the examples that Jon Ronson talks about in his book, but here’s his TED talk on the subject. It’s very interesting and insightful…and his accent is the best. (17 minutes)
Services
Just a reminder of the services (and examples) that Break a Pencil offers.
1:1 Product Manager Coaching
(How can I become a better product manager and increase my chances for promotion?)
Product Team Coaching & Transformation
(As a PM Leader, ’m juggling a ton right now. How can I get the most out of my Product Management team?)
Fractional Product Management
(I need someone to draft a product roadmap in the next few weeks.)