Leadership Without Authority
From Product Management School
As a Product Manager, you will be required to be a leader and a champion of the product that you are responsible for.
In practice, most of the time, this means that you will be leading without authority. Leading without authority is a critical skill that needs to be adopted by all Product Managers.
So what does leading without authority entail and why do you need to do it?
Well there are volumes and volumes written on it so this is going to be a brief overview of the most salient points. To be a successful Product Manager, you will have to learn strong leadership skills. Not everyone is born a leader and even those that have a natural flare for it still need to learn the skills that will enable them to deal with most eventualities.
Tips on Leading Without Authority
- First you have to lead by example. You have to walk the walk and talk the talk. What you do is always being watched by someone so everything you do must be beyond reproach and done in a professional manner.
- You need to make yourself visible. Be seen to be participating in important debates and projects. Do not stay in your office, you need to show your face and be seen as a person that is getting things done and meeting their commitments. One of your main skills in order to bring cross-functional teams together successfully is networking and bridge building with your peers, with senior management and with those below you in the organizational structure.
- Make sure that you share your knowledge, actively listen to people and take on board what they have to say. Giving and receiving feedback is a very important part of building your integrity and engendering trust. Help other out where you can and ensure that you include others in your projects, discussions and decision-making processes.
- Make sure that you are at the forefront of problem solving; that you think strategically; and that you reflect upon your actions critically and learn from your experiences. You must demonstrate your striving for excellence and empower others to do the same.
- And perhaps most important of all be passionate about your product and what you do. Being positive and upbeat is infectious and will engender the same response in others.
You will have to absorb everything you can from the people around you, assimilate it and use the effective techniques.
Your knowledge will have to be constantly updated as well. You can do this by reading articles, reading books, seeking out courses, conferences and workshops to hone your skills. This is definitely a skill that requires continuous improvement through gaining knowledge and experience.
If you are able to you should also find a mentor or coach that you respect. Having someone impartial to discuss your experiences and new concepts with is vitally important.
