I used to think being a Product Manager meant I’d have control.

I came into Product through the world of startups.

As a founder, I was used to making decisions—quickly, decisively, and without needing sign-off.

So when I transitioned into Product Management, I carried that same assumption:

That I’d have authority.

That I’d call the shots.

That being a PM meant being what people often call a “mini-CEO.”

I quickly learned: it doesn’t work like that.

The Myth of the Mini-CEO

Let’s get this out of the way—yes, PMs are leaders.

And yes, you have autonomy.

In most roles, no one is breathing down your neck, telling you exactly what to do and when to do it.

But you don’t have formal authority.

You don’t manage people directly.

You don’t get to pull rank.

You’re accountable for outcomes… without control over most of the inputs.

That’s the hard part.

And also the part that makes Product such a powerful craft—because what you build depends on how well you collaborate, not how loudly you lead.

Why People Get Attracted to PM

A lot of people come into Product because they’re tired of corporate hierarchy.

They want to have more say.

They want autonomy.

They want to build things and see them come to life.

That’s all possible—but it doesn’t happen through authority.

It happens through clarity.

Through influence.

Through understanding your product, your users, and your team deeply.

The truth is: PM won’t give you power.

It’ll give you a platform to earn trust—if you’re willing to do the work.

What Actually Makes You Effective as a PM

If you’re early in your PM career, here’s what to focus on:

• Become a domain expert.
  • Know your product, market, and users better than anyone in the room.
• Don’t expect people to listen just because of your title.
  • Earn their trust through thoughtful decisions and consistent follow-through.
• Don’t expect engineers, designers, or cross-functional teams to just “do what you say.”
  • Learn to explain the why. Get buy-in. Be clear about tradeoffs.
• Don’t drop last-minute asks and expect everything to shift.
  • Learn how to prioritize, plan, and protect your team’s time.
• Don’t make it personal when your idea isn’t picked.
  • Your job is to help the team ship the best solution—not to be the one with the idea.
• Don’t try to control every decision.
• Facilitate conversations. Elevate perspectives. Guide decision-making with context and care.

The Energy You Put In Is the Result You See

That’s one of the biggest truths about Product.

No one tells you what to do.

You have to be self-directed.

You have to be proactive.

You have to create a structure where there is none.

And if you bring clarity, curiosity, and humility into the role—

You’ll grow faster than you ever imagined.

So if you’re entering Product because you want to lead:

👉🏽 Lead with trust.

👉🏽 Lead with research.

👉🏽 Lead by lifting others.

That’s how great products—and great PMs—get built.