How to cope with bad EM?
Same as title. As a product manager, what to do when your EM is not supportive and passes the buck to you always, doesn't accept mistakes, instead waits for the chance to blame you instead. You can't even escalate, because of course you have only one EM. Of course, your team's EM will not change.
I faced this situation.
If you have a really serious situation where the EM keeps shitting on you, take him to a cabin and have a word. Understand the core issues. Get some leverage over them.
Best way for him/her to flap their gums is to get them drunk at a party and then understand why the fuck are they doing this. Get leverage and get them workin.
They either disagree with your decisionmaking capacity (manageable) or want to become a PM themself (manageable). If they are setting you up for failure everytime, reason with them or simply escalate.
EARN. THEIR. RESPECT. Simple as that.
AstroBubbles
Stealth
a year ago
One thing i forgot to add where the em i work is subpar in terms of knowledge, plus not friendly at all. Being chill is a two-way street. Only if the other person allows you to be chill with them, you can do that.
Then you have ample chance to boost his confidence by teaching him. Bhai you already have leverage over him. Just use it.
Kuchacharakhlo
Stealth
a year ago
Welcome to PMING
AstroBubbles
Stealth
a year ago
🙄🙄🙄 thanks but please give some input too 😮💨
Kuchacharakhlo
Stealth
a year ago
Earning respect of engineers in general as a PM is difficult, I have found it helpful to make them clear about the scope of work they have and also keeping a lighter tightness in the team
For EM side , you gotta be very free and in chill terms with this person, I know if the person is twisted it’s difficult but try to have conversation beyond work, my team always does that with me 😂 and ik why they are doing it.
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BengaluruLandLord
Stealth
a year ago
NOTHING.
Bow before him and come to terms that it's your life's reality to have made a mistake of becoming PM without deserving to be one. Why did you even become PM?
Unless you are technical pro, or say business pro where you have real work to focus on, you have no business being a manager. Just give hime your PRD & fck off.
You are no match to engineering 😂
I also suffered the similar problem. I had a talk with him and talked to my manager and team with instances and some instances issues were because of the company culture where PM is expected to answer tech design as well(I am non tech PM) . Further, I realized he is too busy with other issues, I escalated this issue with management that he is overloaded.
Overall, I would say it's impossible to solve this problem without some damage but just communicate your problem with him and your manager as well with specific instances and somehow something may click but go with open mind.
