Are You Chasing Symptoms or Solving Real Problems?
Most manufacturing leaders I talk to feel something is off, but they struggle to see the real problem.
- They see the revenue numbers, but sales are flat.
- Their team is busy, but results aren’t following.
- Their new product launches are on time, but are not gaining traction in the market.
These are symptoms. They’re not the root cause, but signs something deeper beneath the surface isn't working as it should.
Symptoms often look like this:
- Sales wants “just one more feature” to close a deal.
- Roadmaps shift constantly, chasing input from every direction.
- New releases don’t move the market.
- No one is sure what to build next.
These are clues that a bigger problem is hiding underneath.
What’s really going on:
- No one owns the product across its full lifecycle.
- Teams make decisions without customer insight.
- Strategy and execution aren’t connected to grow the business.
- Processes are undefined or not being followed.
These are the issues that stall growth. Once you name them, you can build a plan to fix them.
If the problem is around your products, this is where product management fits in.
Why Product Management Matters
When no one’s thinking about the product from initial ideas through launch and into full lifecyle, you end up reacting instead of leading.
Product management gives you that structure.
It connects the dots between customer needs, market opportunities, and business strategy.
It helps teams work on what matters for your customers, not just the loudest voice in the room.
Symptoms get your attention. But it takes time, conversations and insight to uncover the real problem.
If you’re navigating this now, reply and tell me what you’re seeing. I’d be glad to help you think it through.
Want help seeing what’s underneath the symptoms?
I created a tool to make it easier to spot where things are working and where they’re not.
It’s called The Product Assessment. In five minutes, you’ll see which areas of your product strategy are strong and where deeper problems might be hiding.
Posted in Why Product Management | Tagged Business Acumen, Behavioral Changes, Leadership
