Moving from an Associate Product Manager (APM) to a Product Manager (PM) is a challenging milestone in any product management career. This journey can be incredibly rewarding, with lessons shaping your abilities as a PM.

Here are seven lessons I learned along the way:

1. Embrace Ownership Early: One of the shifts from APM to PM is the level of ownership and responsibility. As an APM, you often support PMs, working on specific tasks or features. As a PM, you own the product or a large chunk of it. Embrace this ownership early on. Think beyond tasks and features to strategy work, such as developing a product roadmap. Understand the broader vision and how you can contribute to it. This mindset will prepare you to be a PM.
2. Develop Strategic Thinking: While APMs often focus on execution, PMs balance execution with strategy. Developing strategic thinking is essential. This involves understanding market trends, customer needs, and the competition. Start attending strategic meetings, even as an observer, to see how decisions are made. Break down successful products (examples at https://strategybreakdowns.com) and understand the strategic choices behind them. These insights are critical to the transition to a PM role.
3. Hone Your Communication Skills: As an APM, you communicate within your team and with stakeholders. As a PM, your communication scope broadens. You’ll need to articulate your product vision, rally the team, negotiate with stakeholders, and present to peers and executives. Honing your communication skills is crucial. Practice straightforward, concise, and compelling storytelling. Learn to tailor your message to different audiences. And sharpen your presentation skills. Effective communication can make the difference between a good and a great PM.

Continue at https://bit.ly/3W6CEw0.