You’re a PM. Now what? 30-60-90 day plan for product managers

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Creating a 30-60-90 Day Plan as a Product Manager

Phase 1: Learn Phase (30 Days)

1. Build Relationships:

   • Identify key team members and experts.
   • Establish trust by being curious, willing to learn, and showing accountability.
   • Invest time in understanding the landscape of people you work with and build relationships based on trust and credibility.

2. Learn About the Product and User:

   • Dive deep into understanding the user, their needs, and the value the product brings to them.
   • Read user research, user studies, and interact with the product.
   • Engage with customer support, marketing, and sales teams to gather insights about the product and its users.
   • Start creating a voice of the customer by conducting user interviews and documenting user feedback.

3. Understand the Technical Landscape:

   • Learn about the technical setup of the product, its architecture, design, and tech stack.
   • Engage with technical experts to understand the technical aspects of the product.
   • Research and educate yourself on technical terms and concepts related to the product.

Phase 2: Align Phase (60 Days)

1. Understand Organizational Objectives:

   • Grasp the broader business context in which the product operates.
   • Understand the organizational goals, strategies, and roadmaps.
   • Align your product strategy with the larger organizational objectives.

2. Understand Team Processes:

   • Learn about the specific processes of your team and company.
   • Identify the role of a product manager within the team and understand the boundaries and expectations.
   • Collaborate with team members to align on roles and responsibilities.

3. Formulate your Product Strategy:

   • Articulate your roadmap and strategy based on your understanding of the user, product, and organizational goals.
   • Develop a point of view on features, use cases, and customer priorities.
   • Start contributing to high-level deliverables and strategic planning discussions.

Phase 3: Execute Phase (90 Days)

1. Achieve Deliverables:

   • Execute on the goals set with your manager for each month of the 90-day period.
   • Submit deliverables such as product requirements documents, strategy documents, or feature implementations.
   • Start early on deliverables to allow time for feedback and iterations.

2. Adapt and Learn:

   • Evaluate your progress against the set goals and adjust as needed.
   • Seek feedback from stakeholders and incorporate learnings into your work.
   • Stay open to adapting your approach based on feedback and new information.

3. Avoid Common Mistakes:

   • Set specific and measurable goals in the beginning to track progress effectively.
   • Balance the urge to change processes with understanding the reasons behind existing decisions.
   • Prioritize understanding the user over quick wins and avoid getting caught up in action without a solid foundation.

By following this comprehensive 30-60-90 day plan, you can effectively navigate the crucial early months of your product management role, build strong relationships, understand the product and user, align with organizational objectives, and deliver results effectively. Good luck on your product management journey!