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Product Managers Aren’t Backlog Managers!
Understanding this tragic fate and learning how to avoid it.
A Product Manager is responsible for maximizing the value for the business and customer. This is a common understanding of this job. I think we all could agree to that. But what happens, in reality, is quite ugly.
You get hired as a Product Manager, and in a couple of months, you realize that your job is limited to backlog management. Sometimes even worse, you get trapped doing some bullshit management. And no time is left to create value.
The sad fate of Product Managers drives me nuts 🤯
Product Managers hit the corporate firewall and mutate into Backlog Managers. This is indeed nonsense. We’ve got to find a way out of this trap.
Great professionals get hired and become excited to rock their new business but quickly get blocked by the corporate firewall. Then get demoted without further notice to backlog managers or stakeholder puppets.
Let me elaborate on the critical differences between Product Managers and Backlog Managers.
Understanding the Difference between Product Managers and Backlog Managers
✅ Product Managers focus on uncovering opportunities to create value.
❌ Backlog Managers focus on writing specific backlog items.
✅ Product Managers continuously measure the outcome and decide what to do next based on evidence.
❌ Backlog Managers put their energy into increasing velocity. They celebrate shipping features at the speed of light.
✅ Product Managers strive for partnership with business people and don’t shy away from conflicts.
❌ Backlog Managers do their best to please as many stakeholders as possible while being afraid of stepping on their toes.
✅ Product Managers inspire product teams and empower them to solve meaningful problems however they see fit.
❌ Backlog Managers plan by capacity, micromanage the team, and provide no overarching vision.
