Every Product Manager Needs a Simple 4-Step Framework for Self-Assessment. Here’s What I Do.
4-step Framework for Product Manager self-assessment:
It’s bad enough PMs don’t graduate with a degree in product management.
PM roles at each co/each team are also different.
Only the lucky few who go through PM programs at FAANG can follow a standard.
Let’s fix this 👇🏽
I’m doing a self-assessment right now, so follow along.
My framework:
📜 PM Skill Assessment
🤔 Personality Assessment (optional)
🗺 Triangulate
⚔️ Design for 80/20 improvement
1. PM Skill Assessment
There are options out there
- Intercom’s PM assessment: https://blog.intercomassets.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Intercom-PM-job-ladder-Logo.pdf
- @loomista’s PM Wheel: https://www.strongproductpeople.com/pmwheel
- @ravi_mehta’s Peak PM framework: https://www.ravi-mehta.com/product-manager-skills/
Pick the one that’s easiest to get started with.
Add nuance from others if you want.
You can get your manager to complete the same assessment for you.
This is powerful.
You will see where you agree on strengths and weaknesses.
You’ll also see where your opinions are diametrically opposed.
2. Personality assessment
You might think these tests are BS so this is optional.
I like to do a barrage of tests annually.
- Strengthsfinder
- PrinciplesYou
- Basadur Profile
& many more (google them)
They might be inaccurate, but the value is in step 3.
3. Triangulate
Now you put your PM hat on and you synthesize this research.
Review your assessment, overlay your manager’s view + those tests’ insights.
What opportunities stand out? What flaws weigh heavily on you? What strengths can help balance out the weaknesses?
You might even feel overwhelmed, push it away (“there’s too much work to do”)
Have no fear, my friend.
When in doubt, cut the space in 4 with the good ol’ 2x2. It’s the oldest trick in the book.
Part of my synth process is looking at the same data against several pairs of orthogonal vectors.
There’s no right or wrong.
You can’t go wrong with the classics:
- high impact/low effort
- high urgency/high value
- low alignment with manager/high value.
The world is yours.
4. Design solutions
Now you know you need to upgrade your skill in strategy development, voice of customer, or QA.
To measure progress next time, you could fall in the trap of gaming your results. So at the next check-in, overweigh your managers view on your skill 4:1.
If they can craft an experiment for you to tackle (post-improvement), even better.
Now you need to think about the effective dose.
What will you do to become better?
Some obvious options:
- Books are great but can be low effort/low value (nice-to-have)
- Courses (like Reforge) can hit the spot better
- Personal projects can get you the 80/20 result
Put on a timer, write a prompt/try a good brainstorming exercise and explore more options.
Whatever you pick, immediately make an appointment with yourself to do the work + another appointment with your manager to check in your skills again.
Good luck!