Confronting Imposter Syndrome with a healthy dose of transparency
Create a Personal Operating Manual to own what you don't know.
Last week, I had the privilege of running a workshop tailored for lean team product managers – many of them struggling with imposter syndrome. (DM me for the replay!)
I write about Imposter syndrome a lot because well, it's so ubiquitous in the product management world. Hell, its something that my clients mention over and over and over again. I’m listening to my customer, what can I say?
Over the past few months I realized that there was this one thing that really helped me navigate imposter syndrome when I was a product manager. So I thought, you know, why don’t I templatize it?
Enter the Operating Manual.
You know what an operating manual is but I imagine you may have never thought to create one for yourself.
Think of an Operating Manual as a personalized guidebook to how you work. Think of it as a powerful tool for…
setting transparent boundaries,
embracing your strengths, and
seeking support where needed
And, instead of letting imposter syndrome hold you back, use an Operating Manual to confront it head-on. And own it!
Using an Operating Manual
I first discovered the transformative impact of an Operating Manual during my tenure at Spotify. Initially, it helped me optimize my focus time by addressing small issues like signaling when I needed uninterrupted work periods.
But its significance didn't stop there. I went deeper and invited my colleagues into my work style and aspirations. I admitted my challenges, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
This transparency not only strengthened our working relationships but also propelled my professional growth forward. I added the Operating Manual to my slack away message, my email signature. My whole team ended up creating them! And it was an amazing way to break down barriers and own what I didn’t know in my day to day of being a product manager.
Transparency = Trust
Transparency breeds collaboration and fosters a positive work environment. And today, I'm excited to share a simple template to craft your own Operating Manual.
Tweak it, share it, own it. And let me know how it goes.
Grab it here —> Make a copy of it here.
Are you a lean team product manager looking for support?
I’m looking for senior PMs to join The Lean Product Accelerator: An 8-week coaching collective for small and one person product teams.
Apply here.
