How a Shattered Skull Taught This Product Manager to Be OK with Ambiguity

I began my software career over 20 years ago as a developer, and became a PM in 2008. My high level of organization, along with my software knowledge, made me an excellent PM. However, my strongest skill was also my most glaring weak spot: Control freaks are not OK with ambiguity. If I encountered unclear problems, or complex but undocumented processes, I tended to become lost in a spiral of frustration. This took a toll on my career, because one of the crucial skills of a good Product Manager is to be able to function productively within chaos. But when I shattered my skull in a head-on bicycle collision, I was forced to develop the skill of managing ambiguity- and it changed my life and career.

 

Learning points:

– Managing ambiguity in Product Management
– Managing ambiguity in career development
– Using setbacks to advance your risk-taking skills