Hiring Your First Product Manager? Start Here.

Over the years, I’ve seen companies hire their first product manager with high expectations.

But without a clear plan, the role can quickly lose momentum and fail to deliver value. The first 90 days are make-or-break for the product manager and impact for your business.

Handled well, this role becomes a catalyst for growth. Handled poorly, it becomes an expensive experiment that doesn’t meet the business’s expectations.

These three steps set the foundation for success.

1. Clarify the Role in the Organization

Don’t assume everyone knows what a product manager does.

Without clarity, the role can get pulled into project management, firefighting, or tasks that don’t drive strategy and propel the business forward.

Make sure leadership and the product manager agree on their responsibilities, decision rights, and measures of success.

2. Align With Leadership

A product manager needs more than a job description. They need buy-in from the leadership team.

Schedule regular touchpoints with department leaders and the executive team in the first 90 days to align on priorities and share early observations.

This keeps them from operating in a vacuum and builds trust across the business.

3. Connect With Customers Early

The fastest way for a product manager to make an impact is to deeply understand the customer.

Shadow sales calls, visit customer sites, and spend time in service and support.

Firsthand knowledge will guide better decisions than any report or secondhand feedback.

Which Step Would Make the Biggest Difference for Your Business?

If you are planning to add your first product manager or want to make sure your current one is set up for success, send me an email. I am glad to share what has worked for other manufacturers making the same move.