A product manager (PM), is at the bottom-most link of the chain, the job description is such that of an artist, workman and scientist in one. The PM coordinates with many other departments in a company to execute their ideas.

Leadership without authority is what they are duly described as. PM’s are an integral part of the team, in creating a new product, to execute and maintain the product.

A PM is a Role-Player

In big and established businesses PM’s are selected from their qualifications and years of experience as key points. In start-ups, however, a PM is not a specialized field. It is expected that the candidates are multi-tasking and have knowledge of the generalities of other fields.

Hiring of a PM

The eligibility of candidates for being good Pms can be found by testing certain skills and traits:

• Problem-solving technique: Product manager is a tricky role to play; it requires a lot of creative thinking. They are expected to turn the setbacks faced to a different solution.
• Communication Skills of candidates should be off the charts. PM’s are a part of the well-oiled machine; they are expected to maintain the status quo in the machine.
• An attribute that is often expected of candidates applying for PM is empathy: Thinking from the minds of their clients and customers. To create or discover a product that fulfills their wants and needs satisfactorily.
• Natural leadership ability: they are expected to lead and coordinate with other teams to ensure the product is launched into the market fit.
• Curiosity for and a thirst to find out new ideas and techniques to make sure the product satisfies the needs of your customers and still is innovative.
• The failure of any product generally lowers the morale of a team. The candidate is tested on how he can adapt to the failure and glean from the mistakes or challenges is crucial. A PM is also expected to motivate and push for a better product in the future.
• Passion sums up the attributes that are often seen in a PM. Passion is a tricky thing trait; it needs the drive of motivation and inspiration to ensure that a product is launched successfully in the market.

PM’s Are Expected To Prove Their Worth

A Product Manager is a unit that is expendable at any time. It is required of the candidate to be functional in any other part of the team too. A candidate with strong technical background, leadership and communication skills is not expendable in the least.

The PM is required to be confident in various aspects of the functioning, design, and marketing of the product. Instincts and the innate quality to turn setbacks in favor of product are valued highly in the character traits of the PM.

Product Managers are expected to experience and learn from their failures and push for innovation. In start-up businesses job descriptions of PM require them to do a little bit of everything and work as a part of the team. The perfect Product Manager thrives on the possibility to achieve success.

LSI Keywords: product manager, strong technical background, leadership and communication skills