Product Management’s Dirty Secret: Politics
Why is politics often considered a “dirty word” in product circles?
28% of PMs say it’s the part of the job they dislike most. But it’s the big elephant in the room.
Every Product Manager (PM) and leader faces it, yet most shy away.
Why?
Let’s take you back
During my PM stint at Google, I had a project to improve our enterprise readiness for the Job Search API. It wasn’t just any project; it was THE project.
- The numbers were spot-on.
- User testing was through the roof.
- Every indicator screamed ‘Go!’
And yet, we never built it.
Why?
Politics.
One of the most influential adjacent Engineering Managers felt threatened. He had a competing project, you see. So, strings were pulled behind closed doors.
I later learned it took just one meeting to have my project was canned.
This wasn’t a setback; rather an enlightenment.
It dawned on me: no amount of data or strategy could have saved me. Because I had ignored the political landscape.
Enough Waiting, It’s Time for Tactical Action
You can be the smartest person in the room. You can draft the most beautiful roadmap. All your KPIs could be green.
But none of it matters if you don’t factor in politics.
Like 28% of you, I consider it amongst the most distasteful parts of the job.
But we both ignore politics at our own peril:
- Features don’t just get delayed; they die.
- Teams don’t just disengage; they revolt.
- And you? You don’t just receive bad performance ratings. You’re out. Period.
Refer this deep-dive to learn how to take control of the politics in your job.
Politics Isn’t Just a Game, It’s THE Game
Politics in product management and leadership isn’t a footnote. It’s the headline.
Yet we often relegate it to hushed DMs, or veiled comments in meetings.
A key reason? Fear. We don’t want to be known for politics. We want to be known for our products and their results.
But here’s the thing:
Politics doesn’t just happen in the corridors of power or behind closed doors.
It happens in Slack channels. In team standups. During product reviews.
It’s omnipresent.
So we, PMs and product leaders, face a choice. We can continue to tiptoe around the subject — or, we can tackle it head-on.
Get Started Today
This isn’t a drill. This is your wake-up call.
If you’ve been skirting around politics, stop. Right now.
Enough with the avoidance. It’s time to take your influence challenges head on.
