We are all going through challenging times. In fact, the entire way product managers work has completely changed. The work/life balance of PMs is being tested; managing a product team and various roadmaps virtually adds to the list of current challenges. Meanwhile many professionals are exploring if pivoting into product management is a career path for them. Frankly, it's hard to find great resources to learn more about leveling up your product management skills. Well, when life gives you lemons, make PM lemonade!

5. Surviving Product Management During Crisis
When Life Gives
You Lemons Make
PM Lemonade

6. vivekbedi.com
Goldman Sachs
Northwestern Mutual
Sterling BackCheck
LearnVest
mySwapp
FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES
STARTUPS
What's my story?
AUTHOR, SPEAKER, DIGITAL LEADER

7. Question
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE
LAST 6 MONTHS AS WE HAVE
LIVED THROUGH A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC?

8. Ahh... 2020
WHAT A CHALLENGING YEAR.
UNEMPLOYMENT
WORKING REMOTELY
WORK/LIFE BALANCE
CAREER REFLECTIONS
PANDEMIC

9. Family responsibility
vs. board meeting. I
don't have to choose.
I needed to create
parts in my life.
Lesson 1
KEEP PERSPECTIVE

10. Question
AT YOUR 90TH BIRTHDAY
WHEN YOUR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS ARE GIVING A SPEECH
ABOUT YOUR LIFE WHAT DO
YOU WANT THEM TO SAY?

11. Some Tips
GET BETTER AT MANAGING EMOTIONS
TRY TO CREATE CHAPTERS OF YOUR DAY (RE-VISIT
PREVIOUS CHAPTERS LATER)
BUILD INNER CIRCLES (REALLY SMALL ONES)
SHOW VULNERABILITY AT TIMES
FIND WHAT CALMS YOUR SOUL

12. Lesson 2
CREATE THE RIGHT VIRTUAL
WORKING SPACE
Your home has
become your office
and your office has
become your home.
OH NO!

13. Some Tips
CREATE YOUR SPACE
CREATE A COMFORTABLE HOME SETUP - BUT DON'T
SPEND ALL DAY IN THERE.
SPLURG ON THE EQUIPMENT - SPEAKERS, CAMS, INTERNET
SPEED, TOOLS, ETC. - IT'S WORTH IT.
HAVE THINGS AVAILABLE ON THE GO - MOBILE.
FOLLOW A ROUTINE - COFFEE, LUNCH, DRESSED UP.

14. Lesson 3
ENGAGE WITH YOUR TEAM
Presentations are as
dis-engaging over
virtual conference as
they are in real life.

15. Quick Exercise
SALLY HAS AN HOUR MEETING
TO PRESENT HER ROADMAP TO
HER TEAM
EVERYONE IS LOGGED IN
REMOTELY AND IT'S A VIDEO
CALL
THE CALL WILL HAVE HER
TEAM AND STAKEHOLDERS
HOW CAN SHE MAKE MORE FUN?
1.
2.
3.
4.

16. Some Tips
ENGAGE YOUR VIRTUAL TEAM
DISRUPT THE FORMAT - A LOT OF Q/A , STORIES, ETC.
HAVE SHORTER MEETINGS - VIRTUAL STANDUPS
USE YOUR VIDEO - IT'S MORE ENGAGING
GET ORGANIZED WITH A SHARING TOOL FOR TASKS

17. Now we have to
manage emotions,
prioritize roadmaps,
and negotiate - all
virtually!
Lesson 4
MANAGE POLITICS VIRTUALLY

18. Some Tips
MANAGE POLITICS VIRTUALLY
FIND A GOOD CHAT TOOL AND BE ACTIVE ON IT!
BLOCK OUT TWO 15 MINUTE VIRTUAL COFFEE CHATS
CELEBRATE WINS - HAPPY HOUR, THANKS TIME,
ETC.
RUN PRIORITIZATION EXERCISES - VIRTUALLY

19. Now more than ever
we need to find the
perfect blend of work
and life!
Lesson 5
WORK-LIFE BLEND

20. Some Tips
ON FINDING BALANCE
BLOCK YOUR CALENDAR FOR YOU TIME!
MINIZE WORKING LUNCHES
PICK A TIME TO CLOCK OUT...
SET AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUR TEAM

21. Looking to get into
product or even
looking to level up
your skills.
Lesson 6
LEVEL UP - YOU!

22. Some Tips
TO GROW YOU!
TAKE CLASSES- BUT INTERACTIVE ONES!
FIND A MENTOR AND READ MORE BOOKS!
BECOME AN AMAZING STORYTELLER.
ASK OTHER PMS FOR ADVICE AND REFLECTIONS

23. Think of it as a book of
chapters- early, middle, to
now
Give the highlights only
Add humor
Add authenticity
Sprinkle top stats and why
they matter
Show vulnerability
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
#your-story

24. Homework
IMAGINE YOUR CEO MEETS YOU
OVER A VIRTUAL COFFEE AND
ASKS SO CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR
STORY?
YOU HAVE ABOUT 2 MINUTES
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
SEND ME YOUR ANSWER AND
HAPPY GIVE YOU FEEDBACK!

25. The Product Manager Needs
HOW TO USE STORYTELLING AS A PM
Inspire your team.
Keep your stories
consistent and
customer focused.
Convince customers.
People don't buy what
you do they buy why
you do it.
Product narratives.
Write your product
story before a line of
code is written.

26. Use stories to highlight
great work your team,
people in other teams, or
even personal friends are
doing. It's inspiring and
build great relationships.
RECOGNIZE PEOPLE
Get out sticky-notes and
turn meetings into
storyboard sessions. It's
more impactful and more
fun.
CHANGE MEETINGS
Come up with the
highlight reel of your
career story. Use it all the
time and refine it, from
interviews, intros, and so
on. Why do you exist?
YOUR STORY
Useful Everyday Tips
TRY THESE EVERYDAY

27. HOW I CAN
HELP?
CAREER ADVANCEMENT IS NOT EASY
(IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY HARD).
Coach, Mentor, or Advisor
Talks or Speaking
Interactive Workshops
Writing & Blogs
Networking
Listening..
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

28. VIVEKBEDI.COM
VIVEKBEDI@GMAIL.COM
"To build great
products you first
need to build a
great you."
FINAL WORDS