Main takeaways: -Rule one: No matter what, summarize the results of a meeting and give a conclusion *This should also include: *Concrete recommendation *Highlighted risks *Next steps -Rule two: If you're heading down the wrong path, don't be afraid to walk yourself back and find a new approach *Examples of prompts that necessitate change *Items that can make walking back difficult (the inertia of other stakeholders) *What happens if you don't: the dreaded "come to Jesus" meeting -Rule three: When planning a vision, start from the mission *Context around the mission as an imperative giving the PM the decision making mandate *The PM executing their vision as a lawyer example

1. www.productschool.com
Use Your PM Tools From the Start!
by DocuSign Product Leader

2. CERTIFICATES
Your Product Management Certificate Path
Product Leadership
Certificate™
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Management Certificate™
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Certificate™
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3. Corporate
Training
Level up your team’s Product
Management skills

4. Use Your PM Tools from
the Start!
By Kyle Uhelski

5. About Me
● Product Manager for 5 years
● Huge aviation nerd
● Used to do improv all around Chicago

6. Thesis
Statement
Many of the frameworks we use to get a job in Product
Management should be used even more once we land
that job.

7. Presentation
Goal
Talk about some of the tools that I’ve used that have helped
me be a more effective PM.

8. Table of contents
The Product Case
Interview
01
Rule 1: Summarize
02
Rule 2: Walk Back
At Will
03
Rule 3: Start with
the Mission
04
Conclusion
05

9. The Product Case
01

10. Why are
manhole
covers
round?
Brain
Teaser:

11. How
would you
improve x
product?
Product
Case:

12. The Problem
Tools we use to
get a PM job
Tools we use
once we’re hired

13. The Opportunity
Tools we use to
get a PM job
Tools we use
once we’re hired

14. The Framework
Talk about a rule
used during the
interview process
Talk about the
opportunity to
apply that rule
once we’re hired

15. PM Case Rule 1:
No matter what, at the end of your given
time, summarize your conclusion.

16. “In conclusion, I think we
should build feature x, in
order to increase the
value of product y, which
we would measure in
terms of z.”
In Product
Case:

17. “What the hell happens
next?”
“What was the point of
this meeting?”
“We are not on the same
page even though we’re all
nodding.”
In Real Life:

18. Takeaway: A Good Conclusion includes
Concrete
Recommendation
01
Highlighted
Risks
02
Clear Next Steps
03

19. PM Case Rule 2:
If you realize that you’re heading down the
wrong path, don’t be afraid to walk yourself
back.

20. Your choices
Problem
arises
Continue pushing
down same path
Change your
approach given
new info

21. Difficulty level of changing your approach
Difficulty
Level
In Interview In Real Life

22. The more time and resources we’re given
to solve a problem, the harder it is to turn
back

23. Takeaway:
Recognize that we always have the option to retrace our steps
if the approach seems wrong.
A different path is likely available.

24. PM Case Rule 3:
Start with the mission.

25. Things that you want to dive into:
The Backlog Upcoming
Releases
Your vision

26. Company Mission
Business KPIs
Things that you should dive into:

27. Tesla Example:
To accelerate the world's transition to
sustainable energy.
Increase revenue 10%
Increase vehicle production 60%
Reduce delivery time by 20%

28. Mission
+
Business Goals
=
Mandate empowering
decision making
The Product Mandate

29. Should we enter
a new market?
Should we
change a sprint
because of an
escalation?
Should we
consider pivoting
pricing strategy?
Common Product Decisions

30. Everyone has to
agree on the
mission

31. Takeaway:
Early discussions around the mission are one of
the best ways to check your understanding of how
things work at your new company.

32. Conclusion

33. Conclusion
Concrete
Recommendation
Highlighted Risk Clear next steps
Give some of these tools a
try and see if they have an
impact on your day-to-day.
Potentially missing out on
the value outlined.
Please let me know if any
of these have been helpful
or if you have any valuable
tools I missed.

34. CREDITS: This presentation template was created
by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, and
infographics & images by Freepik
Thanks!
Please keep this slide for attribution
KyleUhelski@gmail.com
KyleUhelski.com

35. CREDITS: This presentation template was created
by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, and
infographics & images by Freepik

36. www.productschool.com
Part-time Product Management Training Courses
and
Corporate Training