What do you think junior PMs struggle with the most in regards to working with executives?

Junior product managers can face challenges when working with executives around:

• Communication - articulating complex ideas concisely. To combat this, think through what are the key 2-3 points you want this busy executive to take away from this meeting and use visuals, data, and examples to illustrate those ideas effectively

• Influence - convincing executives and managing expectations. To combat this, build a compelling case based on data and user insights. Show how product decisions align to the company’s broader strategic goals

• Adaptability - handling shifting priorities and pressure to perform. To combat this, stay informed about market trends, customer needs, and emerging technologies. Cultivate a mindset that embraces change and focuses on long-term product vision while addressing shifting priorities

The areas that junior PMs struggle with the most when working with leadership are: 

1) communication - An IC PM is in the weeds of their specific charter but not the executive. When asked a question, keeping the response to the right level of verbosity and the right depth is where most junior PMs struggle. 

2) Balance between self-reliance and escalation -  Many times, when a junior PM is blocked, they either raise concerns too early too often or express concerns in the wrong forums. This can very quickly create noise for the executives losing trust in the ability of the PM to execute.