Product Management

References the mission and vision when discussing their current tasks. Asks clarifying questions about how specific work connects to broader company goals. Acknowledges the mission and vision in team discussions.

Explains to teammates and stakeholders how current projects connect to the mission and vision. Uses mission and vision language when presenting work. Helps others understand the strategic context of their initiatives.

Identifies and proposes new feature opportunities by analyzing gaps between current capabilities and the mission and vision. Evaluates feature proposals against mission and vision alignment. Filters ideas through the lens of strategic goals.

Designs multi-quarter roadmaps that translate the mission and vision into sequenced product changes. Adjusts roadmap priorities when they drift from strategic intent. Communicates how roadmap choices advance the company's mission and vision.

Defines new product strategies that expand or reinterpret the mission and vision. Shapes external narratives through presentations, publications, and industry engagement. Influences how customers, partners, and competitors perceive the company's strategic direction.

References and cites qualitative research conducted by others. Asks clarifying questions about existing customer insights. Incorporates findings from team members into feature discussions and documentation.

Conducts customer interviews and usability tests with guidance from senior team members. Synthesizes feedback into themes. Shares findings with squad members to inform feature decisions.

Independently designs and executes qualitative research studies. Uncovers non-obvious customer needs and pain points. Translates insights into specific feature opportunities and presents findings to cross-functional teams.

Conducts multi-phase qualitative research across customer segments. Identifies patterns that inform multi-quarter roadmap priorities. Synthesizes insights across product areas to reveal strategic opportunities.

Develops novel research methodologies that uncover insights shaping product strategy. Coaches product managers across the department on research design and synthesis. Establishes standards and frameworks that improve qualitative analysis capabilities company-wide.

Cites quantitative analyses conducted by others in discussions and documentation. Relies on existing reports and dashboards to inform feature-level decisions. Asks clarifying questions about data sources and methodology when reviewing others' work.

Conducts quantitative analysis with direction from senior team members. Runs queries, builds basic dashboards, and interprets metrics with oversight. Presents findings to squad members and incorporates feedback to refine analytical approaches.

Independently designs and executes quantitative analyses that reveal insights shaping feature decisions. Selects appropriate metrics, identifies data patterns, and presents actionable recommendations. Validates findings through multiple data sources without requiring guidance.

Conducts sophisticated quantitative analyses that uncover insights driving roadmap priorities across multiple features. Synthesizes data from diverse sources to identify trends and opportunities. Presents findings that influence cross-functional teams and leadership on multi-quarter plans.

Performs complex analyses uncovering insights that shape product strategies and business direction. Reviews and enhances analytical work of department members through feedback and mentorship. Establishes analytical frameworks and best practices adopted by other product managers.

Relies on engineers and technical leads to explain system architecture, data models, and APIs. Asks clarifying questions about technical constraints and feasibility. Defers to others when technical decisions need to be made.

Discusses system architecture, data models, and APIs with engineering peers using appropriate terminology. Contributes to technical discussions about implementation approaches. Makes product decisions informed by technical understanding without requiring constant guidance.

Proposes features based on technical capabilities or gaps identified in current systems. Anticipates technical dependencies and integration challenges before engineering raises them. Connects technical constraints to product opportunities in feature planning discussions.

Shapes multi-feature roadmaps by identifying technical opportunities across systems. Evaluates build-versus-buy decisions using technical architecture knowledge. Connects emerging technical capabilities to business objectives when planning quarters ahead.

Identifies novel applications of technology that create new strategic directions. Teaches technical concepts to product managers across the department through documentation, presentations, or mentoring. Recognizes when technical trends will fundamentally change product possibilities before widespread industry adoption.

Asks others to explain design systems and user experience issues. Requests guidance before making decisions involving design considerations. Relies on designers to identify and articulate UX problems.

Discusses design systems and UX problems with peers using shared terminology. References design patterns when making decisions. Contributes to design conversations without requiring translation or interpretation from designers.

Points out feature opportunities based on design knowledge during planning. Flags potential system dependencies before they become blockers. Proposes solutions that account for design system constraints and user experience implications.

Connects design knowledge to roadmap priorities and sequencing decisions. Identifies multi-feature opportunities that leverage design systems. Shapes roadmap proposals by articulating how design choices enable or constrain business objectives.

Recognizes novel design applications that create strategic advantages. Teaches design thinking to product managers across the department. Influences how the organization evaluates and discusses design opportunities at the strategy level.

Asks others to explain business metrics, financial implications, and industry context before making decisions. References analyses and interpretations created by teammates or managers when discussing business considerations.

Reviews business metrics, financial reports, and industry trends independently. Uses this information to explain tradeoffs and guide feature-level decisions in discussions with cross-functional peers.

Conducts market research and analyzes business data to identify patterns. Presents insights about competitive positioning, customer segments, or revenue opportunities that inform roadmap priorities.

Leads financial modeling exercises and industry research initiatives. Shares frameworks and findings with department members. Connects market dynamics to product strategy through presentations and documentation.

Develops comprehensive business plans with revenue projections, cost structures, and market positioning for new product lines. Proposes alternative business models and monetization approaches. Teaches business thinking company-wide through workshops or materials.

Articulates reasoning behind decisions made by senior team members. Asks clarifying questions to understand decision criteria. Documents and shares decision rationale with immediate stakeholders.

Gathers input from cross-functional peers and makes scope and priority decisions for individual features. Weighs trade-offs transparently. Adjusts decisions based on new information without requiring escalation.

Synthesizes diverse stakeholder input to make roadmap-level decisions. Balances competing priorities across multiple features. Communicates decision frameworks that others can reference for consistency.

Makes decisions across multiple product areas with incomplete information. Moves forward decisively in ambiguous situations. Identifies when decisions are reversible versus one-way doors and adjusts approach accordingly.

Reframes high-stakes, irreversible decisions to reveal new options. Introduces decision-making frameworks adopted across the department. Coaches others on navigating complexity and builds organizational decision-making capability.

Collects and presents data showing squad's work impact. References metrics to demonstrate outcomes. Tracks basic adoption and engagement indicators. Reports results to immediate team members.

Sets and achieves specific adoption, engagement, or retention goals for improvements to existing product capabilities. Uses data to iterate on features. Demonstrates measurable impact on established metrics.

Delivers new product capabilities that meet adoption, engagement, or retention targets. Validates market fit through customer behavior data. Adjusts launch approach based on early signals to achieve goals.

Delivers multi-feature roadmaps that achieve high-level business objectives. Connects product outcomes to revenue, growth, or strategic company goals. Coordinates across teams to drive measurable business results.

Introduces new strategies or enters new market categories that achieve significant business objectives. Demonstrates impact through market expansion, revenue growth, or competitive positioning. Shapes company direction through measurable outcomes.

Sends status updates to stakeholders when plans change. Notifies relevant parties of decisions already made. Responds to questions about current work and timelines. Documents changes in shared channels or meetings.

Facilitates squad discussions to reach consensus on feature priorities and scope. Seeks manager input before presenting feature proposals to department stakeholders. Schedules alignment meetings and follows up on action items within the squad.

Presents feature proposals to department stakeholders and addresses concerns without escalation. Prepares materials and talking points but requests guidance before engaging company leadership. Resolves cross-functional disagreements through direct negotiation and compromise.

Presents roadmap plans to executive leadership and navigates objections independently. Builds coalitions across departments before formal proposals. Conducts pre-meetings with key stakeholders to secure buy-in. Adjusts messaging and framing based on audience without guidance.

Introduces new frameworks or processes that improve how the company builds alignment on complex initiatives. Coaches other product managers on stakeholder management techniques. Shapes company-wide strategy discussions through thought leadership and persuasive communication visible across the organization.

Asks clarifying questions when facing constraints. Seeks input from others before proposing solutions. Requests feedback on approach and direction from more senior team members.

Evaluates solutions proposed by others and identifies strengths. Generates initial ideas but requests guidance to refine quality. Incorporates feedback to improve proposals before sharing widely.

Proposes multiple solution options for feature-level problems without prompting. Shares ideas with peers for review. Refines proposals based on collaborative input before implementation.

Develops comprehensive solutions spanning multiple features or product areas. Connects ideas across roadmap initiatives. Presents well-formed proposals that address complex, multi-quarter challenges.

Introduces approaches not previously used in the industry. Reframes problems in ways that reveal new solution spaces. Produces concepts that others adopt as best practices externally.

Delivers accurate written and verbal updates to squad members. Documents decisions and changes clearly. Responds to questions with factual information. Shares progress in team meetings without major misunderstandings.

Writes concise proposals and feature briefs with occasional guidance. Presents directly to stakeholders, cutting unnecessary detail. Adapts communication style based on audience. Keeps messages focused on key points.

Crafts narratives that persuade cross-functional peers on feature decisions. Uses storytelling techniques in presentations. Aligns department stakeholders through clear, compelling written and verbal communication. Meaning consistently comes through without confusion.

Produces roadmap presentations that shift leadership thinking and secure executive buy-in. Frames complex tradeoffs in ways that drive alignment across product areas. Written communications influence company-wide product direction and resource allocation.

Publishes external content that positions the company as industry thought leader. Delivers keynotes and writes articles that shape how the market perceives the company's strategy. Communication creates new frameworks adopted beyond the organization.

Builds effective relationships within squad. Responds thoughtfully when receiving feedback. Supports senior team members in their work. Participates in squad discussions and decisions.

Proactively seeks feedback from squad members and responds with action. Demonstrates visible changes based on feedback received. Partners effectively with squad members on shared goals.

Identifies and brings appropriate stakeholders into decisions consistently. Delivers specific, timely, and direct feedback to peers across the company. Partners with senior members on complex initiatives.

Leads squads and cross-functional peers in communication and feedback practices. Drives alignment on complex problems across the company. Provides specific, timely, and direct feedback to executives.

Identifies and implements novel ways of collaborating across the organization. Improves collaboration skills and practices across the company. Shapes how teams work together on the most complex challenges.

Acknowledges mistakes and setbacks without becoming defensive. Asks questions when uncertain. Responds to feedback by making adjustments to work. Discusses challenges openly with team members.

Actively requests feedback from peers and managers. Sets specific development goals and tracks progress. Volunteers for stretch assignments outside comfort zone. Shares learnings from failures with squad.

Identifies situations that trigger defensive reactions and pauses before responding. Uses specific techniques to reframe challenges as learning opportunities. Adjusts approach when initial strategy fails without external prompting.

Shares personal failures and learnings in team settings to normalize growth. Coaches others through setbacks by asking questions rather than providing answers. Celebrates team members' experiments and risk-taking regardless of outcome.

Pursues ambitious initiatives that others consider unfeasible, documenting the journey publicly. Reframes company-wide failures as data points for future success. Challenges industry assumptions through experimentation and shares results externally.

Asks questions to understand how leadership principles apply to specific situations. Requests guidance when facing team dynamics or decision-making scenarios. Observes how senior team members handle conflicts and facilitate discussions.

Demonstrates leadership principles in some situations but not others. Facilitates team discussions with occasional prompting. Takes initiative on straightforward decisions. Shows inconsistent follow-through on team commitments and accountability practices.

Consistently facilitates productive squad meetings and resolves conflicts directly. Holds team members accountable to commitments. Makes transparent decisions and explains rationale. Proactively addresses team dynamics and morale issues within the squad.

Navigates complex cross-functional dynamics and builds consensus across departments. Coaches peers through difficult situations. Addresses organizational impediments that affect multiple teams. Facilitates difficult conversations between stakeholders with competing priorities.

Mentors others in applying leadership principles to complex situations. Creates forums and practices that develop leadership capabilities across the department. Intervenes in organizational challenges to demonstrate effective leadership approaches. Receives requests for coaching from leaders across the company.

Maintains a visible system for tracking tasks and deadlines. Completes assigned work on time. Communicates when needing help with prioritization. Updates task status regularly and follows established processes for time tracking.

Articulates rationale when choosing between competing tasks. Declines or delegates work when at capacity. Proactively communicates trade-offs to stakeholders. Adjusts priorities based on changing business needs without requiring direction.

Delivers commitments reliably across multiple workstreams with dependencies. Identifies and mitigates scheduling risks early. Coordinates timing across teams to meet deadlines. Maintains consistent output quality despite competing demands.

Designs and implements processes that improve team throughput. Identifies and eliminates time-wasting patterns across the department. Coaches others on prioritization frameworks. Establishes rituals and ceremonies that optimize collective time usage.

Creates company-wide operational frameworks adopted across departments. Publishes principles and practices that become organizational standards. Demonstrates time management approaches that others reference and replicate. Influences industry conversations through external thought leadership on productivity.