Mastering the Art of Product Intuition: A Guide to Developing Your Product Sense

Building empathy:

One of the key components of good product sense is empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In order to build empathy as a PM, there are a few things you can do:

1. Observe people interacting with products:
   
   If you want to boost your product sense and become a pro at crafting products that have the desired impact on users, there's one thing you gotta do: observe people using products. That's right, observe 'em. And not just any products, yours and other companies' too. Don't just read about it in some report written by your research team, go out there and see it for yourself. Trust me, it's worth it.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: "Observing people using products sounds boring and tedious." But let me tell you, it's actually quite entertaining. You get to watch people's reactions to your product and ask them questions about their experiences. It's like a live reality TV show, but with less drama (probably).|

So, how do you do it? It's simple. Just attend user research sessions and pay close attention to the micro details. Notice how people react to different aspects of your product and ask them open-ended questions to understand their feelings and thoughts. And don't forget to ask yourself why they react the way they do.

2. Deconstruct everyday products: Another way to build empathy is to take apart everyday products and try to understand the decisions that went into their design. This can be a useful exercise in understanding user needs and the trade-offs that go into creating a product. By analyzing the design of products you use every day, you can get a better sense of what works and what doesn't, and how to design products that meet the needs of users.

Improving creativity:

In addition to empathy, good product sense also requires creativity in order to come up with innovative solutions to user needs. Here are a few ways you can improve your creativity as a PM:

1. Learn from great product thinkers: One way to improve your creativity is to learn from the best. There are many resources available for learning about product design and development, such as blogs, books, and podcasts. By learning from experienced product professionals, you can gain insights into how they approach problem-solving and come up with innovative solutions.

2. Be curious about changes in technology and your domain: Staying up-to-date with changes in technology and your industry can also help stimulate your creativity. By being aware of new trends and developments, you can come up with ideas that take advantage of these changes and address emerging user needs.

Overall, developing your product sense is a continuous process that requires both empathy and creativity. By building empathy through observation and deconstruction of everyday products, and improving creativity through learning and curiosity, you can become a more effective PM and create products that meet the needs of users.

Technological Trends

As product managers, it's our job to stay on top of the latest and greatest trends in technology, society, and regulations. After all, change is the only constant, right? And when it comes to change, there are plenty of opportunities to launch new products that address user needs in creative and innovative ways.

Take Cash App, for example. When they decided to jump on the Bitcoin bandwagon, they saw a huge boost in revenue - almost 76% of their 2020 earnings (a whopping $4.6 billion) came from Bitcoin. And let's not forget about Uber, which wouldn't have been possible without the proliferation of GPS-equipped smartphones and Google Maps APIs. And who could forget Clubhouse, which became the hot new social media platform thanks to the pandemic's acceleration of the need for virtual public discourse?

But how do we stay on top of these trends, you ask? One way is to pay attention to major tech company developer conferences and read commentary from industry analysts. You can also follow tech founders and investors on social media (like the always-insightful Naval Ravikant and Elad Gil) and pay attention to the trends they're excited about. And let's not forget the wise words of Paul Graham: "Live in the future, then build what's missing." By keeping an open mind and looking for opportunities to pursue, you'll be well on your way to developing your product sense.

Another way to stay ahead of the game is to understand micro changes that may unlock new possibilities. To do this, it's helpful to meet with domain experts and engineers and go deep on topics like new APIs or platform capabilities. By living in the future and understanding what's missing, you'll be better equipped to develop your product sense and come up with innovative solutions.

So there you have it - a few tips for staying on top of technology trends and developing your product sense. Remember to keep an eye on emerging trends, follow tech founders and investors, and go deep on micro changes in your domain. With a little bit of curiosity and effort, you'll be well on your way to creating products that people will love! And hey, who knows - maybe you'll be the next Cash App or Uber. Just remember to thank us when you're a billionaire.