Program managementasseenbytroyma
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This document provides an overview of program management from the perspective of Troy Ma. It covers a variety of topics related to successful program management, including the importance of communication skills, building consensus, confidence, and passion. It also discusses best practices for meetings, leadership, managing teams, and building a career in program management. The overall message is that program management is about managing people and relationships through strong communication, interpersonal skills, and a passion for the work.
Program managementasseenbytroyma
- 1. Program Management -- through the eyes of Troy Ma email: [email protected] linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/troyma chirrrrrrp: https://twitter.com/TroyMa4u
- 2. Warning This deck may be complete B.S. This is the world of program management as seen by Troy Ma
- 3. Topics Types of successful PMs Fundamental rule of PM Communication Verbal Written Listening Specs & project setup Consensus & conviction Confidence Passion Meetings Interpersonal Leadership Managing Building your career
- 4. Two types of successful PMs Breadth Depth Crowd pleasers (breadth) Super nerds (depth) • Great at pulling large cross team projects together • Good at People/Relationships • Knows complicated system design/architecture • Can challenge/lead dev system designs “you really need some of both”
- 5. Fundament rule of PM This is a people game
- 6. Have you studied “people” lately? Quotes: Don’t criticize, condemn or complain Give honest and sincere appreciation Arouse in the other person an eager want Great reads: How to win friends and influence people What got you here won’t get you there The definite book of body language The art of speedreading people Story time ;)
- 7. Verbal Communication Can you speak clearly ? Take pronunciation classes Enroll in public speaking Can you cut your words in half? Write down your main point (no more than 2) Think about how to convey just those 2 points We don’t need to know every detail got it why are you still talking? Shut it! “Let me tell you more”
- 8. Written Communication People generally have instant amnesia Get stuff in writing Remind people Summarization Call out key decisions & action items Proper email titles Once written, cut your text by 50%
- 9. Communicating Up Feature Crew – details to get work done • Issues & low level details • Bugs Middle Management – decisions • Decisions & tradeoffs • Major details summarized Upper Management – key decisions CEO – Summarize & Simplify
- 10. Listening Maintain eye contact Let people get their words out don’t cut in Acknowledge their thoughts Repeat back what you heard to confirm “Never miss a good opportunity to shut up” – Dr. Phil
- 11. Owning your spec Credibility Know your domain Gather your metrics Have consensus on the key decisions before your spec review Call out the gotcha’s and how to solve them Follow up – no really, follow up A spec is summary of the agreements you’ve made
- 12. Setting up a project
- 13. Consensus Building Identify: Stakeholders People with strong opinions Basic process: Research and think through your idea Get a few people on your side as support Think about what big players / opinionated ones will say Dramatize your idea to the key players and try to settle their opinions offline Grab group meeting to “review” decisions Send out summary to cement decisions
- 14. Consensus Ninja 80/20 rule: give up on the 20% to win the 80% In group setting Small issues: Give in or squash it Large issues: Prep people before hand and have them “chime in” Use data If it’s not going your way ask to follow up “offline” In person: Settle large issues Ask yourself if this battle is really worth “winning”
- 15. Problem in action Problem: We are building image search and the backend team wants you to highlight the image filters but you don’t think it is the best user experience They believe You believe
- 16. Understand each other Understand: You are dealing with tech zealots This work is what they do for a living Data alone won’t be enough Your 80% – No ugly expanded filters Your 20% – placement of filters i <3 starcraft
- 17. Start with 50% 50% is backed up with: Data Support from others “After looking at data and consulting with design, we think placing the filters below with 1 color icon is best”
- 18. The rebuttal But everyone is a design expert And everyone “understands” users “users won’t be able to find what they need. We should show all filters and place it on top”
- 19. The 20% give You already know what the outcome will be Congrats on being a ninja “fine, the top has much higher prominence, let’s compromise on non expanded filters and run flights for variations later”
- 20. Conviction Social framing: people act based on accepted social norms Start your conversation as a friend Never say “you’re wrong”. This includes, “but, however” Listen, understand and then guide their thoughts Get data / others on your side Know when it’s a losing battle and cut your thread No PM has ever won an argument
- 21. Confidence My state of mind I am the best at my job I can easily swap roles with any management and rock it – I just need the opportunity Work on your core Do you really believe in yourself? Reflect back on your history of success But I can’t do <insert b.s.> -- what if I told you: You will lose the project, if you can’t do <insert b.s.> You will lose your job, if you can’t do <insert b.s.> You will lose your family, friends, life, if you can’t do <insert b.s.> Set new expectations for yourself & readjust your social frame – force yourself to live up to your own new expectations Strong self belief mixed with a touch of ignorance and a dash of cockiness
- 22. This is my cat “Bella” Youtube inspiration She’s a kitty cat Dance! Dance! Dance!
- 23. The art of story telling Why storytelling? Easier for people to follow Easier for people to remember Related Formats: Tag lines – summarize your project into 1 memorable sentence Elevator pitch – explain your idea in 30 sec The journey I need to sell the idea and have everyone see the same picture
- 24. The Journey – Building a toaster Tada! Here’s my solution: Step 1: I think I have a good idea of the solution and need to get people on board Step 2: let’s brainstorm together and I’ll guide them through my thoughts Step 3: let’s refine together Step 4: Tada! Here’s our solution OR
- 25. Does passion matter? Without passion, it’s hard to put in the extra effort to succeed love what you do or find something else
- 26. Meetings Pre-meeting: Have an agenda Set the correct length Bring the right people Do the prep work During meeting: Know when to cut threads and when to let people waste a few minutes Push for your goal Assign names and time for follow ups After meeting: Send out notes Follow up Know your goal and your desired outcome
- 27. The “street-cred” of your crew Respect (professionally): Solid PM fundamentals: Solid specs, leadership, etc… Consistency over time Like: Strong interpersonal relationships A mix of how people respect and like you
- 28. How to get people to like you Smile Don’t be a little bitch: no one cares about your problems Be positive and have a can-do attitude Try to understand people’s interest and goals and appeal to those Show appreciation for their work Demonstrate how you have a team “family” mentality Plan to spend time with people
- 29. Leadership Prerequisite peer respect & self confidence Actively lead the team into new projects, directions No one will tell you what to do next, go freakin’ do it When in doubt, go freakin’ do it
- 30. With your manager Set clear expectations Over communicate status Understand what your lead wants and how to make his life easier Know when to push back Communication: call out big points and drive for decisions
- 31. With your dev/test peers What value do you provide AND do your peers value this? How you earned your credibility at the table? Are you and your leads speaking the same language? Communicate: Get down to the concrete issues and drive for resolution “my dev/test lead and I are joined at the hip!” – PM Ape
- 32. Managing Less sugar coat and corporate talk – be straight up Set up large areas of ownership Reinforce good work Give room for them to fail Don’t be a stickler on vacation, expenses, etc… Value people – what’s the best thing I can do for my reports?
- 33. Delegation Too much Lose touch of the project/team May lose respect of direct reports Too little Suffocates direct reports Overloads self burn out
- 34. Engineer yourself out of a job Go relax on the beach Move up to bigger challenges OR
- 35. Job vs Career A career is a job with progression What do you want to be when you grow up? Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results How are you increasing your impact & influence?
- 36. Build your career Remember the “don’t be a little bitch rule”? Where do you stand when compared to your peers? Set expectations for promotions and actively discuss it You need more than just your lead’s support
- 37. Learning What did you do in school when you knew something was going to be on a test? Why do you believe you will just learn everything you need on the job? Set out time and concrete goals for learning Commit to always learn and grow
- 39. Building your Reputation Do great work – ship awesome products Consistency Do people really like you and respect you? Do people even know you exists? No matter where you are, you are always selling yourself
- 40. So long, farewell, it’s time to say goodbye…