Leadership must-reads (not only) for IoT Product Managers
“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” - O. Wilde
What makes a wildly successful product manager?
Countless books and blog posts exist about the skills to prioritize features and launch products.
During my years as PM I found that the job is more about people than products. Sure, some technical knowledge doesn’t hurt. But knowing how to bring stakeholders to work towards a common goal beats that.
In product management there are some challenges you face:
Many "cooks in the kitchen": Product management lies at the intersection of powerful departments like R&D, Sales and upper management.
New tech invites more opinions: In industrial IoT projects, new technologies are used and new business models created. This means even more stakeholders and more opinions.
No formal leadership: The only way to manage stakeholders and drive the products is a smart way to get everyone to align.
So, we see that product managers need a way to manage expectations and stakeholders as well as the product.
This is called “indirect leadership”.
It is the form of leadership which can not be based on a position of power. Basically it’s about having people follow you although they don’t have to.
As a product manager, this requires leadership and people skills. You will need to share your vision and inspire supporters.
I have included a short review of the 7 reads that helped me build indirect leadership skills.
Hopefully, you can benefit from them as well.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking (S. Cain)
Why do we have the leadership ideal of an outgoing personality?
Are introverts not suited to lead?
This book helped me during my early days. As I never thought of myself as extremely outgoing, I expected to be at a disadvantage.
Yet, with this book some introvert leaders are presented. It inspires introverts to use their character traits in a powerful way. And, extroverts reading this book gain insights on how to lead introverts.
21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (J. Maxwell)
J. Maxwell brings his decade long learnings and experiences to paper. He breaks effective leadership down into “irrefutable laws”.
For me, this proved to be a great foundation to grasp the core concepts of leadership. Like the other books on this list, this one is no single read. I found the most value reviewing it on a regular basis. For example during breakfast break.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (S. Covey)
I don’t think I wore down any of the other books on this list as much as this one — and also recommended it to anyone I met.
Mr. Covey investigated the minds of successful people throughout history. His insights are put into what he calls “habits”. Instead of building personality traits, which is a quite recent trend, he goes into the human character. A character which has the power to understand itself and others is able to genuinly cooperate and lead.
During my many reads, I frequently had to stop, thinking “YES, exactly!”. In my understanding this book shows practical, logical concepts how to understand yourself and others.
Extreme Ownership (J. Willink, L. Babin)
Some situation leave no margin for error in leadership and execution.
As critical as some projects as product manager may be, we can learn from leadership in life-or-death situations.
The two authors, former US Navy SEALs, deliver the message how to manage a team that is fully committed and takes responsibility. All while keeping the direction clear and simple for maximum focus.
In the environment of Industry 4.0 projects, oftentimes we work with small teams which have to function well in an agile and fast environments.
Never eat alone (K. Ferrazzi, T. Raz)
A book I ate up (pun intended) as I got into shaping my career.
No matter if you build IoT products or your career — the power of networks is undeniable. Keith Ferrazzi goes into detail how to reach out to others and how to:
- Use social media for maximum impact
- Ask for support and extend your network by bringing value to the table
- Maintain a network
A big part of taking a new challenge or diving into new projects is knowledge where to get help. This helps you to drive your projects effectively.
Charisma Myth (O. Cabane)
Olivia Cabane looks into what makes charisma part of great leaders’ character.
She shows what constitutes “personal magnetism” in an easy to understand and practical way:
- Presence
- Power
- Warmth
She also goes into how to build charisma as part of your personality.
Seen in the context of this post, it is a good idea to start with “7 habits of highly effective people”. Charisma can be built, but it can only sustain on a character with a strong foundation.
That being said, a honed charisma helps you to communicate your vision and inspire people to join you.
How to Win Friends & Influence People (D. Carnegie)
One of your main challenges as a product manager or thought leader can be to bring people together, working towards a common vision.
A book which serves as a refresher to work with people in different situations. Dale Carnegie, like others on this list, used his experience and real world observations. He brings together a fresh and easy to read book for a good, enjoyable and successful interaction with others.
Initially published in 1936, the book still holds value today and can enhance how you work as a product manager.
These books served me as a foundation for a successful interaction, also during stressful situations. I found the experience of going the collaborative, relaxed and constructive way to be the most rewarding one.
Have some book recommendations of your own? Let me know in the comments!
Daniel Sontag connects the bots:
As Industry 4 lead and manager for connected products, he does what he loves — tying business to tech, and theory to practice.
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