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Cataloging problems

How do you do your job as a product manager every day if you do not know what problems you have set your product to solve?

One of the most important tasks of a product manager it to catalog problems that prospects / target user base faces.

Just follow the steps and you can get really good at it.

Step 1: Listen to potential users

When you go out to meet people - either potential users or potential customers - you need to listen to what they speak. If you are really good, write it down as soon as possible as you keep listening.

That is just step 1.

Step 2: Look at what they do

As they keep talking, chip in once in a while and ask them what they do and why they do what they do.

While this might seem an innocuous question, it is the most powerful question and has enormous power.

Reason: You are going to get actions from the customer.

Step 3: Listen carefully to the one key thing that they say they are actually looking for.

When customers actually demonstrate to you what they are trying to find out, they will keep pointing to a select few set of things or information that they are actually looking for.

That is the gold mine.

Step 4: Validate what you just inferred.

At times, it makes sense to validate it as soon as you have inferred it. At times it is best to get back and put together what you have.

Present it back and arrive at the one thing that is going to make a difference to him.

While the 4 step process might seem simple, it needs a lot of practice and needs some training.

If you do not have a problem catalog, it is time to start having one now. It is extremely powerful.
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