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- 46. 📷 The Instagramification of Product Management is Driving Us Crazy
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If you’ve spent any time online of late you’ll have noticed Product management, is increasingly influenced by social media culture. The pressure to project an idealised image distorts reality, leading to unrealistic expectations, stress and dissatisfaction. Many are discussing this "Instagramification" of product management too (ironically on social media). Today we’ll cover two perspectives from John Cutler and Dean Peters, shared across two episodes of Jason Knight’s one Knight in Product podcast. We summarise their thoughts, highlight similarities and differences, and provide key takeaways for founders and product managers.
⚒️ The Instagramification of Product Management is Driving Us Crazy
One Knight In Product
📆 John’s Episode Published: May 19th, 2024
📆 Dean’s Reply Published: June 21st, 2024
🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes. Time saved: 46 minutes🔥
📸 The Glossy Illusion of Perfection
John Cutler’s Perspective:
John Cutler likens the current state of product management to the carefully curated, polished lives we see on Instagram. He argues that the endless stream of success stories and ideal practices creates unrealistic expectations. These portrayals often gloss over the challenges and complexities faced by real product managers, leading to feelings of inadequacy and stress.
Key Points:
Curated Content: The content shared by thought leaders often showcases the best-case scenarios without acknowledging the struggles behind them.
Comparison Trap: Constantly comparing oneself to these idealised images can lead to dissatisfaction and burnout.
Mental Health: The pressure to measure up to these standards can negatively impact mental health.
Advice for Founders and Product Managers:
Stay Grounded: Remember that social media often highlights successes while downplaying failures.
Seek Balance: Focus on your unique journey and the incremental progress you make.
🤔 The Root Causes of Instagramification
Dean Peters’ Response:
Dean Peters extends the conversation by identifying the root causes of Instagramification. He categorises the contributors into three groups: A-listers (product management influencers), C-listers (individual contributors), and F-listers (managers lacking leadership skills).
Key Points:
A-listers: Influencers like Marty Cagan and Melissa Perry, while providing valuable insights, often paint an overly idealistic picture of product management success.
C-listers: Individual contributors can contribute to the problem by emulating these influencers without critical thinking.
F-listers: Managers who fail to lead effectively exacerbate the issue by enforcing unrealistic expectations without proper support.
Advice for Founders and Product Managers:
Critically Evaluate Influences: Question the practicality and applicability of advice from influencers to your specific context.
Focus on Realistic Goals: Set achievable, realistic goals rather than striving for perfection.
🛠️ Practical Steps to Combat Instagramification
John Cutler’s Suggestions:
John Cutler emphasises the importance of creating real connections and communities to counteract the negative effects of Instagramification. He suggests practical steps to foster genuine engagement and learning.
Key Points:
Community Building: Join or create communities where honest discussions about challenges and failures are encouraged.
Real Conversations: Engage in meaningful conversations with peers to share experiences and learn from each other.
Limit Content Consumption: Be selective about the content you consume and the time you spend on social media.
Advice for Founders and Product Managers:
Engage Locally: Participate in local meetups or virtual groups to discuss real-world challenges and solutions.
Be Selective: Curate your content feed to include a balanced mix of successes and failures.
🌱 The Myth of Ultimate Success
Dean Peters’ Insights:
Dean Peters challenges the myth that only those who have reached the pinnacle of success can offer valuable insights. He argues that valuable lessons often come from those who have faced and overcome failures.
Key Points:
Value of Failure: Learning from failures can be as important, if not more so, than learning from successes.
Broad Perspectives: Including voices from various stages of success can provide a more balanced and realistic view of product management.
Advice for Founders and Product Managers:
Embrace Failures: Don’t shy away from discussing and learning from failures.
Diverse Learning: Seek insights from a diverse range of experiences, not just the success stories.
🦄 The Role of Managers and Leaders
John Cutler’s View:
John Cutler highlights the responsibility of leaders to provide realistic portrayals and support their teams effectively. He emphasises that true leadership involves acknowledging the difficulties and working through them together.
Key Points:
Leadership Accountability: Leaders should set realistic expectations and provide the necessary support.
Open Communication: Encourage open and honest communication within teams about challenges and successes.
Advice for Founders and Product Managers:
Lead by Example: Be transparent about both successes and struggles.
Support Your Team: Provide the resources and support your team needs to navigate challenges.
🔄 Embracing Reality and Finding Balance
Dean Peters’ Final Thoughts:
Dean Peters concludes by advocating for a balanced approach to product management. He stresses the importance of resilience, realistic goal-setting, and community support.
Key Points:
Balance: Strive for a balance between ambition and reality.
Resilience: Build resilience by accepting and learning from failures.
Community Support: Lean on your community for support and guidance.
Advice for Founders and Product Managers:
Set Realistic Goals: Aim for achievable milestones rather than perfection.
Build Resilience: Develop the ability to bounce back from setbacks.
Cultivate Community: Foster a supportive network where honest conversations are encouraged.
📝 Summary and Takeaways
The Instagramification of product management can lead to unrealistic expectations and increased stress. By understanding its root causes and taking practical steps to counteract its effects, product managers and founders can create a more balanced and fulfilling professional experience. Here are the key takeaways:
Recognise the Illusion: Understand that social media often presents a skewed reality.
Engage in Real Conversations: Build and participate in communities that value honest discussions.
Learn from Failures: Embrace and learn from failures as much as successes.
Set Realistic Goals: Focus on achievable, realistic goals rather than striving for perfection.
Support Your Team: As leaders, provide the necessary support and resources for your team.
By adopting these strategies, product managers and founders can navigate the challenges of Instagramification and create a more authentic and rewarding time at work - probably leading to better outcomes overall.
Want to know more quickly? Just ask the episodes below [web only]👇️ 🤯
or if you prefer,
🎥 Watch John’s episode here , 🎥 Watch Dean’s episode here
John’s episode:
Dean’s episode:
📅 Timestamps:
John
00:01:46] The Instagramification of product management.
[00:03:57] The Instagramification of product.
[00:09:24] Seeking dissenting opinions at work.
[00:12:40] Product managers and information overload.
[00:16:07] Professional identity and myths.
[00:18:31] Product manager judgmentalism.
[00:23:32] Continuous improvement in companies.
[00:24:48] Being kind to each other.
Dean
00:02:30 - The Instagramification of Product Management
00:04:00 - Three Categories of Offenders in Product Management
00:05:00 - Myth 1: The Ultimate Success Myth
00:06:30 - Myth 2: Celebrating Failure
00:07:00 - Myth 3: Believing Our Own Hype
00:08:00 - Discussing A-Listers in Product Management
00:10:00 - Questions for A-Listers
00:12:00 - The Role of C-Listers: Individual Contributors
00:14:00 - The Short Order Cook Product Manager
00:15:00 - The Struggling Strategist
00:16:00 - The Brilliant in Theory Product Manager
00:17:00 - Managers Who Aren't Leaders
00:18:00 - The Ostrich Manager
00:19:00 - The Jackal Manager
00:20:00 - Questions for Non-Leader Managers
00:21:00 - Solutions and Moving Forward
00:22:00 - Final Thoughts and Contact Information