Product Management for Pirates: how to be a part of a historic product development, get the treasure and be amazing
Are you ready for an adventure? Are you ready to work on the maps (and roadmaps, as well) to get the most desirable treasure in the world?
Are you ready to be a part of history?
Let’s be the part of the product development, then.
I know what you may be thinking right now. “I am a product manager, not a developer! I don’t take any part in the development process.” And this is probably the worst thing you could possibly say.
When you are working with teams, and especially on a particular software, you have to think of yourself as a valuable part of the process. Otherwise, it’s impossible to deal with what you have.
Let’s say, you have a project. And you have a marketing strategy. And you have a roadmap. And you have a backlog. You might even chat with developers what they think or struggle with when developing. But do you actually know what is going on?
As a product manager, you have to juggle too many things at the same time. The development? Hah, we have *developers*, right? This is their pain.
Let me tell you something. The result of your development is an unknown treasure. You have it on the map (the roadmap, remember?). You have it circled in red and marked with a huge “X”. You know you need to get there. You can see almost all the obstacles on the map as well. For as long as it is correct. But you are willing to believe it.
As a brave captain of the ship full of pirates (why pirates? Who doesn’t love pirates?) you know, no, you feel the treasure with your heart. You can even picture it. You know it is here and it is real.
And now you have the crew. All these mates with you, on the same boat, who kind of need your guidance when it comes to actually looking for the treasure rather than anything else.
You hold the map, looking at the mountain appearing from afar. The land. Let’s hope it is the right land. You turn back to your crew and see different faces. Some of them are here for money (which you just promised and have not actually given to anyone yet), some of them want to be well-known pirates. Some are greedy, some not. But all of them here, with you, on the same boat.
You look at them for a moment, and then start your speech:
“Mates! We have been waiting for too long for this moment. Our treasure is on the horizon. I can see it. Just a few more miles, and we are in the right place.”
You can feel little to no enthusiasms. They are tired and are not sure what is going on.
“I believe, that all our work was for something valuable! We will be rewarded soon.”
You have got an unenthusiastic “Yeay!..” from your crew, and everyone comes back to the chores they have been doing.
That is how working on the project without knowing the development process usually looks like.
You may tell me: “But, wait a minute! I have no idea of the development process! Okay, I am an engineer, but the process here is completely different!”
And before you go any further, I need to reassure you. You do not need to do the job for the people you work with. You just have to be a part of the process.
How?
Ah, now, I can see that you are interested.
Let’s get back to your crew for a moment. Do you remember any of them? Do you know anything about what they do?
No, you do not have to know about their families or drink rum with them. You have to know what their job is.
You see the sailor getting on the mast and looking around? Yes, that’s the one who is always ready to alarm others, or just wants to be sure that everything is going the right way. That you still have provision to feed your crew and you still have enough weapons to oppose an attack. That is your project manager.
Why not ask: “Hey, Billy, what are you looking at?”
“I think I can see the Spanish Armada, sir.”
“Can you see what they have on board?”
“They have cannons, sir. We don’t have any.”
“Will you get us some cannons?” you ask.
“Sure thing! I know the port we can stop by to get them half-price. We can also get to the island two days earlier. This way we will save the provision and our sailors will not be too tired.”
Do you see how enthusiastic Billy is? You just asked the question. You were in the process of his work. The work he was doing for all of the crew and you.
Do you remember the crew-member standing near the barrels with gunpowder? He is amazing at navigation. And you are not really. Why not ask him how to deal with the map you have just borrowed in the tavern. This is your strategist.
“Mr. Corby!” you yell hoping to find his face among others. He appears right in front of you.
“I’m here, Captain,” he answers. He is not enthusiastic. He knows you are going to assign him to deal with the gunpowder because somebody should make sure that you are safe.
“Pal…” you start, “What do you think about this map?”
You just surprised him. And showed that you trust him enough to show such things. He takes the map and looks at it for a moment.
“This is a treasure map,” he answers, “The one we have been looking for.”
“Aha!..”
“But it has some problems here, sir,” he interrupts you almost immediately, “These reefs have never been here. And I can see that we can go by foot somewhere. Here,” he shows you the way to the cave and the wanted “X”.
And you thought that you were going to spend all the time sailing!…
You half-smile and hand out the map to him so he can explore it further. You come back to your cabin and look at the sun glares on the water.
No matter how difficult your journey is, you have the crew. The crew of people who knows what to do when you do not. The ones who can deal with tasks you cannot. You just have to give them a go. You just need to be the part of this amazing journey.
All aboard, Captain?
