Discover practical advice for product managers on how to effectively manage product lifecycles, streamline decision-making, and ensure a smooth collaboration between teams. Learn to balance user needs, technical feasibility, and product core elements for successful product management.

Let's talk about some advice I have on how product managers can better coordinate and manage their roles. In my view, the role of a product manager is hard to define, but if I had to summarize it in one sentence, I’d say that a product manager is the person who serves the end users and is responsible for the entire lifecycle of a product. Now, let me share some tips on how product managers can better coordinate and take control of their work.

1. Regarding technology, don't overthink the feasibility of implementation.

We often see product managers and developers complaining about each other. I still remember the request about "changing the app's theme color based on the phone case color." Product managers need to focus on the user experience and show care, so they may propose some "possibly unfeasible" requirements. However, having bold ideas and requests is a good thing. I think a better approach is to communicate with developers after presenting the request, try to achieve the most ideal form first, come up with a good solution, and then modify and optimize it based on technical feasibility and costs. Products need to consider costs and various factors, but that shouldn't stop you from thinking big or trying new things—don’t impose unnecessary limitations on yourself.

2. Reasonably assess the demands and avoid frequent updates.

A characteristic of internet products is their fast pace of updates and iteration. Optimization is never-ending. When a new idea or need arises, don’t immediately add it to the project. Instead, manage the requirements carefully—add them to a "requirements pool" first and determine whether they should be included in the next update. This helps ensure quality control.

3. Stand firm and trust your own judgment.

As a product manager, you must have your own opinions and stand by them, especially on core issues that you believe in. If you think a certain idea is feasible, you should stand by it. Disagreements can be a good thing for the team. If your solution is not adopted, you can use software testing and evaluation before the product launches and let the data speak for itself.

4. Keep product features simple, flexible, and easy to modify.

When launching new product features, they should be relatively simple and flexible in the first iteration. This is because the feature hasn’t been tested in practice and users may not like it. Therefore, aim for a simple and quick release. If users don’t like it, it can be modified easily. Once the feature gains user acceptance, you can then update and enhance it quickly.

5. The core of the product is crucial.

Only if the core features of the product are correct and the product’s model and framework are sound can the product potentially succeed. As a good product manager, being able to grasp these core aspects is a reflection of your value. Pay attention to details, focus on the user experience, and value feedback. All of these require a strong product core as a prerequisite.