What are the key learnings for Product Managers from the book, “The Courage to be Disliked “?
“The Courage to Be Disliked” by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga is a self-help book that explores the teachings of Alfred Adler, a famous psychologist, and his theories on individual psychology. While the book may not be directly targeted at product managers, it offers several valuable lessons that can be applied in their work.
- Taking Responsibility for Your Actions
One of the key lessons from the book is taking responsibility for your actions. This means owning up to your mistakes and not blaming others for them. As a product manager, taking responsibility for your actions means acknowledging when a product or feature doesn’t work as intended and working towards a solution. For example, if a product launch fails, it’s important to identify what went wrong and take steps to address the issues.
2. Living in the Present Moment
Another key lesson is living in the present moment. This means focusing on the task at hand and not getting bogged down by past failures or future uncertainties. As a product manager, living in the present moment means focusing on the needs of your customers and delivering products that meet those needs. For example, if a customer requests a new feature, it’s important to prioritize that feature and deliver it as soon as possible.
3. Overcoming the Fear of Failure
The book also discusses the fear of failure and how it can hold us back from achieving our goals. As a product manager, fear of failure can prevent you from taking risks and trying new things. It’s important to overcome this fear and take calculated risks to innovate and improve your products. For example, if you’re unsure about launching a new product, it’s important to weigh the risks and benefits and make a decision based on the available data.
4. Building Strong Relationships
The book emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships and treating others with respect. As a product manager, building strong relationships with your team members, stakeholders, and customers is essential to success. By fostering a culture of respect and collaboration, you can build trust and loyalty among your stakeholders. For example, if a team member disagrees with your approach, it’s important to listen to their concerns and work together to find a solution that works for everyone.
5. Embracing Change
Finally, the book encourages readers to embrace change and see it as an opportunity for growth. As a product manager, embracing change means adapting to new technologies and market trends to stay ahead of the competition. It’s important to continuously innovate and improve your products to meet the evolving needs of your customers. For example, if a new technology emerges that could improve your product, it’s important to consider integrating that technology into your product roadmap.
In conclusion, “The Courage to Be Disliked” offers several valuable lessons for product managers, including taking responsibility for your actions, living in the present moment, overcoming the fear of failure, building strong relationships, and embracing change. By applying these lessons, product managers can improve their leadership skills and drive innovation in their organizations.
Thanks for reading! If you’ve got ideas to contribute to this conversation please comment. If you like what you read and want to see more, clap me some love! Follow me here, or connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Do check out exclusive Product Management resources 👇
- The Ultimate List of 100+ Product Management tools 🛠https://rohitverma.gumroad.com/l/PM-tools
- The Ultimate List of Product Management Frameworks ⚙️
https://rohitverma.gumroad.com/l/PM-frameworks - The most exhaustive OKRs notion template 📔https://rohitverma.gumroad.com/l/OKR-Template
