What it takes to become a top 1% PM | Ian McAllister (Uber, Amazon, Airbnb)

Click to expand the mind map for a detailed view.

Summary of Key Actionable Takeaways

  1. Focus on Impact: Prioritize making the biggest impact possible every day, rather than focusing on promotions or politics.
  2. Master Communication: Clear communication is a core skill for PMs. Answer questions directly, then explain. Continuously improve by reflecting on your communication.
  3. Prioritize Effectively: Prioritization is the most critical skill for PMs. Focus on what will drive the most impact and align with business goals.
  4. Execute Reliably: Ensure you and your team deliver on commitments. Execution is key to building trust and credibility.
  5. Think Big: Always ask if your idea or solution could be bigger and more impactful. Hunt for bigger opportunities.
  6. Earn Trust: Trust is the currency of a PM. Build trust by consistently setting and meeting expectations, owning mistakes, and being transparent.
  7. Work Backwards: Start with the customer problem, not the solution. Use frameworks like Amazon’s “Working Backwards” process to ensure you’re solving real problems.
  8. Be Driven by Impact, Not Promotion: Focus on delivering value and impact, and promotions will follow naturally.
  9. Adapt to Change: Embrace change and continuously improve. Be open to feedback and learn from every experience.
  10. Leverage Writing: Writing helps crystallize your thoughts and can have a significant impact on your career and connections. TAKE NOTE

Detailed Summary of Key Points

1. Introduction to Ian McAllister

  • Background: Ian McAllister is a seasoned product leader with experience at Amazon, Airbnb, and Uber. He authored one of the most influential posts on product management, focusing on what separates top 1% PMs from the rest.
  • Focus of the Conversation: The discussion centers on two main topics: what makes a top 1% PM and the “Working Backwards” process used at Amazon.

2. What Makes a Top 1% PM

  • Key Attributes:
    • Think Big: Always look for bigger opportunities and impact.
    • Communicate Clearly: Clear communication is essential. Answer questions directly and then explain.
    • Simplify: Focus on doing more with less by simplifying solutions.
    • Prioritize: Prioritization is the core skill of a PM. Focus on what will drive the most impact.
    • Forecast and Measure: Continuously forecast outcomes and measure results to validate your decisions.
    • Understand Technical Trade-offs: While you don’t need to be an engineer, understanding technical trade-offs helps you make better decisions.
    • Understand Good Design: A strong understanding of design helps you think from the customer’s perspective.
    • Write Effective Copy: Clear, concise copy is crucial for communicating with customers. TAKE NOTE
    • Earn Trust: Trust is the currency of a PM. Build trust by consistently delivering on promises.
    • Dig for Data: Don’t rely solely on reports; dig into the data yourself to uncover insights.
    • Push Back Effectively: Learn to push back on bad ideas without being difficult to work with.
    • Adapt to Change: Embrace change and help your team adapt as well.
    • Driven by Impact: Focus on delivering impact rather than chasing promotions.

3. Top Skills for New PMs

  • Communication: Clear, concise communication is the foundation of a PM’s success. Continuously improve by reflecting on your communication. TAKE NOTE
  • Prioritization: Focus on what will drive the most impact. Prioritization is the key to generating 5x the impact of an average PM. 
  • Execution: Ensure you and your team deliver on commitments. Execution builds trust and credibility.

4. Leveling Up as a Senior PM

  • Think Big: Always look for bigger opportunities and impact. Ask yourself, “Could this be bigger?”
  • Earn Trust: Trust is critical for senior PMs. Build trust by consistently delivering on promises and owning your mistakes.
  • Driven by Impact: Focus on delivering value and impact, and promotions will follow naturally.

5. The Working Backwards Process

  • Core Concept: Start with the customer problem, not the solution. The process ensures you’re solving real problems.
  • Common Mistakes: Teams often start with a solution in mind and retrofit the problem. This is not true “Working Backwards.”
  • Amazon’s Approach: Amazon uses a press release and FAQ to enforce the Working Backwards process. The press release focuses on the problem, solution, and customer benefits. TAKE NOTE
  • Legitimate Plan to Succeed: The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) ensures there’s a legitimate plan to execute the solution.
  • Application Outside Amazon: While the press release and FAQ are Amazon’s mechanisms, the core idea of starting with the problem can be applied in any organization.

6. Building Trust as a PM

  • Trust as Currency: Trust is essential for PMs, especially as they grow into leadership roles. Build trust by consistently delivering on promises, owning mistakes, and being transparent.
  • Earning Trust: Trust is built by repeatedly setting and meeting expectations. Be honest, ship on time, and own your mistakes. TAKE NOTE

7. The Importance of Writing

  • Crystallizing Thoughts: Writing helps you clarify your thoughts and communicate more effectively.
  • Career Impact: Writing online can have a significant impact on your career, helping you build connections and share your insights.

8. Lightning Round Highlights

  • Favorite Books: Getting Real by 37signals, Wool Trilogy by Hugh Howey, and Energy and Civilization by Vaclav Smil.
  • Favorite Podcasts: How I Built This and EV News Daily.
  • Favorite TV Show/Movie: Yellowstone and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
  • Favorite Interview Question: “At this stage in your career, what have you learned about yourself?”  TAKE NOTE
  • Favorite App: YouTube, for its endless learning opportunities.
  • Industry Thought Leader: Gibson Biddle, for his extensive product experience and clear communication.

Related Posts