Marketing Director
Product management is a challenging and constantly evolving field. As a product manager, it’s essential to have a mentor who can guide you through the process and help you navigate the ups and downs of the job. But what questions should you ask your product management mentor?
In this blog post, we’ll explore some key questions that can help you gain valuable insights and advice from your mentor, as well as provide tips on how to make the most of your mentorship experience.
Product mentorship: questions to ask
Product specific questions
How do you prioritise features and initiatives?
How do you measure the success of a product?
How do you approach product road mapping?
How do you handle a product launch?
How do you handle a product failure?
How do you approach scaling a product?
How do you approach a product pivot?
How do you prioritise and manage your product backlog?
We are launching a product into a new market. Do you have any advice for this transition?
We’re losing market share to our competitors. What advice or learnings could you share?
Stakeholder management and leadership questions
How do you handle difficult stakeholders?
How do you influence stakeholders to your way of thinking?
How did you develop your leadership skills?
Can you share an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision as a product manager?
How do you handle conflicts and challenges with cross-functional teams?
How do you balance competing priorities and manage your time effectively?
Have you ever missed a deadline and what did you do about it?
Industry questions
What do you think the biggest trend is within B2B / B2C product at the moment? What do you see this being going into 2024?
How do you stay up-to-date on industry trends and developments?
What networking events / groups do you suggest?
Do you have any recommendations for learning materials, including webinars, seminars, podcasts and blogs?
Career development questions
What are the most important skills for a product manager to have?
What are the different career progression routes within product management?
What skills and results would I need to show to gain a promotion?
Can you share your advice for career development and advancement in product management?
What is your biggest learning within your career?
Summary
A mentor within product management is a valuable asset for any aspiring person within product. By asking the right questions, you can gain valuable insights and advice to help you progress your career, gain more industry insights and develop successful products.
For more resources, visit our mentee resource library. Or to find a product management mentor, visit our Find a Product Mentor page and enquire about mentorship.
