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Strong Product People: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers
Are you a product leader looking for advice on how to be certain that every product manager on your team lives up to their full potential? Do you want to make sure your product people are competent, empowered, and inspired, and would you like to know how you can best help them on this journey? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this book is for you! By the end of this book, you will • Why you need to focus on the personal development of every product manager—and of the team as a whole—to unlock their full potential. • Why coaching is an important part of your job, and how to do it in the most effective way. • How you can define what a good product manager looks like. • How you can accurately assess product managers and provide them with valuable, actionable, and helpful feedback on their current performance that will help them perform even better. • Which methods/frameworks you can use to make sure product managers learn what they need to know to be more effective—enhancing their people skills. And you will be able • Reflect on your own coaching personality and define your own areas for development. • Efficiently prepare and use one-on-ones as your main coaching tool.
392 pages, Paperback
Published December 18, 2020
186 people are currently reading
1472 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 13, 2021
This is one of those books that while reading it I wished it had existed a few years ago in my career when I started managing product people. All while I was still learning the ropes of product management (and I still am!). Like Janna Bastow in this Mind the Product talk https://vimeo.com/229506824#t=196s I realized that Product Management had to do a lot with people, and well... people are hard. That said, I don't think I could have grasped all the density that has been simplified in the book unless I had accumulated the experience I have today.
There are so many nuances that Petra covers in this book that unless you've found yourself trying to deal with them on your own (giving feedback, managing time effectively, prioritizing, handling conflict, defining a vision, strategizing, hiring), you would just miss a big part of the value the book has to give.
I love that Petra, through all the references and vast amount of materials she recommends to go deeper on certain topics, gives an idea of the thoroughness and the breath of topics one has to cover in product management to be successful. Yet again, this is one of the reasons to love this job. I love learning, and there is just so much to learn even if I have been doing this for almost a decade.
My recommendation is to read this book once you are in the middle of trying to figure out your job as a manager and having accumulated some decent amount of experience with product. Otherwise you might miss the magic in it.
There are so many nuances that Petra covers in this book that unless you've found yourself trying to deal with them on your own (giving feedback, managing time effectively, prioritizing, handling conflict, defining a vision, strategizing, hiring), you would just miss a big part of the value the book has to give.
I love that Petra, through all the references and vast amount of materials she recommends to go deeper on certain topics, gives an idea of the thoroughness and the breath of topics one has to cover in product management to be successful. Yet again, this is one of the reasons to love this job. I love learning, and there is just so much to learn even if I have been doing this for almost a decade.
My recommendation is to read this book once you are in the middle of trying to figure out your job as a manager and having accumulated some decent amount of experience with product. Otherwise you might miss the magic in it.
February 11, 2021
Being a product leader is hard. Growing a product management team requires a lot of skills and activities, that are usually not clearly defined. Strong fills a long-existing need: how you manage product managers, explained with solid practices and tools. I hope I have had it when I started, but I'm glad now I have something to recommend to my teammates. It became a reference book to have near my desk at all times.
July 21, 2021
Might be useful for someone that doesn’t know anything about product management. But I expected more than basic people management tips, a bunch of references to blog posts, and an introduction to product management. It’s well structured, but IMO it doesn’t offer a lot more than what you can easily find online, if you are already an experienced product manager that knows their craft and is working with a manager of managers.
June 22, 2021
You cannot read Strong Product People, you can only use it! I settled in with my book and cup of tea and two minutes in, I realized I had the wrong tools. What I needed was: A highlighter, sticky notes, a pencil… and 20 more copies. This book is so practical. It taught me how to be a product leader (as opposed to just a leader), it gave me easy to use frameworks for coaching to hypothesis testing and everything in between. This book was not written, it was curated. Every chapter has superhandy video suggestions, further reading and illustrations. When deep diving customer data, my team and I read chapter 15 to understand the HEART model. We got together for a virtual lunch, watched the suggested video while eating and next thing we were in a Miro board, using the model in practice. The same thing happened with the Rock, Pebble and Sand model. We went from reading to application in 90 minutes. I have handed out loads of copies of this book, because I think anyone that cares about their product team needs one. So if you want to learn how to tame your advice monster, how to avoid golden apples, or just be a little bit more awesome… read it!
July 18, 2023
I have two main gripes about this (audio)book:
1) the audience for whom this is really valuable is not that big. IF you are a Head of Product (the HOP as the author refers to) of a larger Product organization, then yes, this should be on your shelf. If you are just a “product person” or a VP/C level stakeholder with a product management interest … please do skip. This book ONLY handles product people management and team management. Nothing about Product Management itself.
2) the second gripe is even bigger: please DO NOT BUY THIS AUDIOBOOK. Buy the paper version instead. For truly specialized product people the author/directors of this Audiobook have absolutely no idea how annoying the 7453 completely spelled out URLs throughout the book are. Spelled out including the dashes, hashtags, slash, … even at some points the URL of Youtube videos. It is ridiculous and will make you want to throw your phone in a ditch at multiple occasions.
1) the audience for whom this is really valuable is not that big. IF you are a Head of Product (the HOP as the author refers to) of a larger Product organization, then yes, this should be on your shelf. If you are just a “product person” or a VP/C level stakeholder with a product management interest … please do skip. This book ONLY handles product people management and team management. Nothing about Product Management itself.
2) the second gripe is even bigger: please DO NOT BUY THIS AUDIOBOOK. Buy the paper version instead. For truly specialized product people the author/directors of this Audiobook have absolutely no idea how annoying the 7453 completely spelled out URLs throughout the book are. Spelled out including the dashes, hashtags, slash, … even at some points the URL of Youtube videos. It is ridiculous and will make you want to throw your phone in a ditch at multiple occasions.
January 30, 2021
Strong Product People should become a reference book that is essential for every product leader's bookshelf. It's a very practical guide to coaching and leading product managers with specific, actionable advice you can take into your role. As I was reading it, I not only thought about my own team (which currently isn't all PMs, but related); I also reflected on past teams I've led and wished I had this resource earlier in my career.
Whether you're a brand new leader or an experienced leader who has made all the mistakes, Strong is a really valuable journey that will help you reflect on your coaching practice, and level up your skills in developing people.
Whether you're a brand new leader or an experienced leader who has made all the mistakes, Strong is a really valuable journey that will help you reflect on your coaching practice, and level up your skills in developing people.
February 26, 2021
I have just finished reading Strong Product People by Petra Wille. It is an essential book for product leaders. It will be a powerful tool anytime you need some help with coaching, product strategy, communication, product manager development career, PM assessment models, 1:1 meetings, hiring product people, or balancing product discovery and product development. Paraphrasing one friend of mine talking about Inspired by Marty Cagan’s first book. If you are an HoP, Product Director, or a Senior Product Leader and have to read a single book on Product Leadership, read this one.
February 1, 2021
A must read book for Product Leaders / Manager / Owner. Highly recommended because of the big amount of practical hints and activities.
May 9, 2022
I’ll start by saying that this book has a ton of information packed in it. Each chapter contains concise descriptions and clear next steps for the problems at hand. Even better, there are further reading materials at the end of each chapter that range from books to YouTube videos, blog posts and Twitter threads, which is highly appreciated.
The book covers the majority of questions that product leaders face, with more emphasis on people development aspect. With Product Manager role naturally requiring more autonomy, this area is often left underdeveloped in organizations. This book helps to shine the light on the unique challenges in that realm, the positive impact if those are solved and actionable directions on how to solve them.
I will keep this book as a reference and will certainly get back to select chapters as the need arises. I also want to recommend this book to any first-time product leader - it will save a lot of headaches and problems in the future.
The book covers the majority of questions that product leaders face, with more emphasis on people development aspect. With Product Manager role naturally requiring more autonomy, this area is often left underdeveloped in organizations. This book helps to shine the light on the unique challenges in that realm, the positive impact if those are solved and actionable directions on how to solve them.
I will keep this book as a reference and will certainly get back to select chapters as the need arises. I also want to recommend this book to any first-time product leader - it will save a lot of headaches and problems in the future.
June 22, 2023
The book is an essential guidebook for Product Leaders, Product Mentors, and Managers of Product Managers. It maps actionable, practical advice for coaching and developing product managers. The book includes methods of team management, increasing motivation, recruiting product managers, time management, training product managers for excellence, building a great culture, and more.
A few of my favorite quotes are: “Understand that what makes a Good PM good varies from organization to organization. That is, PMs are only good in their context, their company, their current job, and their time.”
“When you tell your coachee what to do and solve the problem for him, he won’t develop as an employee. When you challenge your coachee’s thinking by asking the right questions, you build a long-term development”
A few of my favorite quotes are: “Understand that what makes a Good PM good varies from organization to organization. That is, PMs are only good in their context, their company, their current job, and their time.”
“When you tell your coachee what to do and solve the problem for him, he won’t develop as an employee. When you challenge your coachee’s thinking by asking the right questions, you build a long-term development”
July 17, 2022
Few takeaways:
1. write down your definition of what you think a strong and competent product manager is and what it takes to be a Good PM in your current organization
2. use this definition for hiring, onboarding, feedback, and personal-development conversations.
3. Create vision for each of your PMs. Always know what “the next bigger challenge” is you would assign to each of your PMs to make sure they keep learning.
Get in a coaching mindset and help your PMs understand what you think makes a Good PM.
1. write down your definition of what you think a strong and competent product manager is and what it takes to be a Good PM in your current organization
2. use this definition for hiring, onboarding, feedback, and personal-development conversations.
3. Create vision for each of your PMs. Always know what “the next bigger challenge” is you would assign to each of your PMs to make sure they keep learning.
Get in a coaching mindset and help your PMs understand what you think makes a Good PM.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2022
This is a great book for product leaders needing a fairly exhaustive overview of the many skills required to be a successful product manager and how to help develop them as a leader.
Lots of this stuff is by no means rocket science, and the points made aren’t always groundbreaking, but I found the overview to be really helpful. Not least as an encyclopedia style overview that you can revisit when relevant.
Lots of this stuff is by no means rocket science, and the points made aren’t always groundbreaking, but I found the overview to be really helpful. Not least as an encyclopedia style overview that you can revisit when relevant.
June 9, 2025
A useful book on how to build a product organization, including developing yourself and your product team
It covers all the key aspects that make up a product org, including discovery, delivery, prioritization, strategy, vision, and alignment
I read the entire book in one sitting, but it also works well as a reference you can return to when looking for specific information
I recommend it to anyone working in or alongside product
It covers all the key aspects that make up a product org, including discovery, delivery, prioritization, strategy, vision, and alignment
I read the entire book in one sitting, but it also works well as a reference you can return to when looking for specific information
I recommend it to anyone working in or alongside product
June 24, 2021
Even if you’re not working in product management, Petra’s book has incredible insights and blueprints for leadership. So much of it feels like a no-brainer and yet there were so many new concepts and fundamentals that I’ve not used or done. Highly recommend to anyone managing product managers (or anyone)
January 13, 2024
Great reference book that contains a lot of resources and concepts to use and keep in mind.
What I especially liked:
- starting from the very basics giving the reader the tool to really understand and explain every concept
- inspiration for 1:1 questions/exercises etc.
- do‘s and dont‘s on motivation were really enlightening
What I especially liked:
- starting from the very basics giving the reader the tool to really understand and explain every concept
- inspiration for 1:1 questions/exercises etc.
- do‘s and dont‘s on motivation were really enlightening
April 21, 2024
Amazing resource for people leading product management teams — so well structured and an absolute fountain of guidance and suggestions!
It’s not a book about product management itself — a couple of the reviews seemed to have gotten confused. It’s a book on how to coach product people to be the best version of themselves.
It’s not a book about product management itself — a couple of the reviews seemed to have gotten confused. It’s a book on how to coach product people to be the best version of themselves.
January 1, 2025
Managing product managers requires a lot to balance. Petra's book compiles everything we need to build a great product team. I missed information on how to work with your own management team and executives, but it was not the purpose of the book. For building solid product teams, this is the "Bible".
November 16, 2021
very interesting and useful information for HOPs
I’ve bought this book occasionally, but after I’ve read it, I can totally recommend it for anyone who has position like Head of products.
I’ve bought this book occasionally, but after I’ve read it, I can totally recommend it for anyone who has position like Head of products.
May 2, 2022
This is an excellent book that covers all the bases when it comes to effective product leadership. From hiring to inspiring, this book provides actionable steps, frameworks & canvases to enable any head of product to up their game and be the leader their team needs.
July 31, 2023
Great read not just for a Head of Product or those who aspire to be one, but also for Product Managers to understand how a successful product team should recruit, organize, develop, reflect and foster!
January 17, 2024
This book is a useful summary for those leading product teams, offering well-organized content that addresses key concerns for heads of product. However, it tends to stay at a high-level overview and, in trying to cover a lot, I felt it misses the depth required for deep insights.
January 11, 2026
good practical one for product leaders, but didn't like her mental model in some the assessment questions categorizations (maybe her way was in order not be tied to a certain school of well know practices?) - e.g. the PM wheel (mixing PM activities with know-how practices in a single model)
March 8, 2021
Dense and good. I appreciated the closing note. Lots to refer back to.
December 30, 2021
I would find this book useful for someone very new in product development, as the whole book is about basic things. If you already have some experience in product development - don't waste your time.
October 4, 2022
I love how practical and well written this book is! There are methods to put into practice right away and I've used many of them to continuously improve my people, team collaboration and myself!
October 14, 2022
A very practical handbook for Product Leaders / Heads of Product, full of great advice on running a product organisations.
December 31, 2023
Really good book for lead position PMs. Well structured, easy to read, have good examples and diagrams. Covers main challenges that are being faced.
February 26, 2024
Excellent read for everyone, especially senior or people managers of product people.
February 28, 2024
Absolute Empfehlung auch „nur für PMs“, die keine anderen PMs aufbauen/führen. Petra schafft es eine gute Flughöhe zu haben und praktische Tipps und klare Anleitungen für die Umsetzung zu geben.
April 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews