Chapter 1: Navigating Leadership Reviews

As a Product Manager within a major organization, effectively managing leadership reviews is crucial for your success. In my previous article, I discussed navigating the roadmapping process at a FAANG company. With roadmaps set, it’s now typical to present your plans to leadership and highlight new investment opportunities.

Recently, a new team member remarked how review processes at Instagram differ from those at other firms. Much of the material is circulated offline, with reviews serving as platforms for in-person discussions.

Building on this insight, I’d like to share some strategies that have facilitated smooth reviews over the years. These strategies can be distilled into essential tips for successful product reviews. In summary:

1. Avoid reading your material verbatim.
2. Clearly articulate your objectives for the leadership meeting.
3. Ensure you obtain the necessary answers.

1. Avoid Reading Verbatim

It’s best not to spend the majority of your time merely talking. Instead, foster an environment for discussion among leadership. To facilitate this, distribute a pre-read of your presentation 24–48 hours beforehand, encouraging feedback and comments. This approach allows you to address initial concerns offline and reserve more substantial questions for the in-person meeting.

For a 30-minute review, I typically dedicate just five minutes to introduce the topic and cover key points. I allocate 10 minutes for discussing pre-read comments and the remaining time for open dialogue. This structure is essential, as it maximizes opportunities for active discussion.

Time with leadership is limited; thus, using your review to glean insights from their perspectives will prove more beneficial than simply reading through a document.

2. Clarify Your Purpose

I’ve experienced product reviews where the purpose of the presenter was unclear, creating confusion about the assistance needed. To avoid this, be explicit in your communication regarding what you seek from leadership. Reviews can take various forms, but three common types include:

• Check-ins: These are designed to update leadership on ongoing projects, covering progress since the last discussion and any new insights or challenges.

  • Buy-ins: Here, a new direction or investment is proposed, supported by qualitative and quantitative data justifying the initiative. I often conduct these if our team aims to pivot on key metrics or introduce a new feature affecting users.
  • Strategic Direction: These reviews are meant to navigate complex issues, presenting a range of options, their advantages and disadvantages, along with your recommendation. Such discussions are typically for large-scale projects impacting multiple teams and requiring extended timeframes.

3. Obtain Necessary Answers

Your primary goal in a review is to achieve alignment and get questions answered. Structure your review and allocate time wisely to ensure you gather the needed insights. I often frame this using discussion questions to cover essential topics. Examples might include:

• Our strategy encompasses x, y, z—are we aligned?

  • Do you have feedback on the new direction we’re proposing?
  • Here’s a trade-off we’ve identified along with our preferred approach; what feedback do you have?
  • Historically, we haven’t included x in our roadmap; is this acceptable?

Additional Tips:

• Share the Spotlight: Involve team members in the presentation to create a more dynamic review and make everyone feel included.
• Delegate Note-Taking: If you’re leading the review, focus on guiding the discussion rather than jotting down notes.
• Follow-Up: After the review, summarize decisions made, action items, and outstanding issues.
• Stay Informed: Be aware of what’s currently top of mind for leadership and acknowledge it, even if it’s only tangentially related to your topic.

Chapter 2: Video Insights on Product Reviews

Description: This video provides practical strategies for conducting effective product reviews, helping you nail your presentations and engage your audience.

Description: Learn how to successfully break into product management at FAANG companies with insights and tips from industry experts.