Summary
No doubt you’ve heard of empathy mapping– the simple, yet powerful tool often employed by product teams to attain a deeper understanding of what their customers think and feel in order to deliver a better user experience. In this interactive, two-part activity, we’ll put product managers in the place of the customer, mapping the motivators, external and internal influences, and actions that make them tick. By the end of this exercise, you’ll have gained insights into who your PM is, and how you can best connect with them! Note: Part 2 of this activity will take place during the second half of the day.
Key Insights
-
•
Empathy is essential for effective collaboration in product management.
-
•
Understanding product managers involves recognizing their external and internal challenges.
-
•
Observations from product managers can lead to more informed decision-making in product development.
-
•
Mapping out product manager experiences helps clarify their roles and pressures.
-
•
Collaborative tools enhance real-time input and engagement during discussions.
Notable Quotes
"Empathizing with product managers is a great first step towards understanding."
"The role of a product manager is to ensure that value is delivered to customers and stakeholders."
"It’s important to step into the shoes of the product manager and think about what they see and hear."
"Managing competing priorities is a tricky challenge for product managers."
"Reframing product managers as individuals carrying a lot of pressure can change team dynamics."
"It's important to categorize tasks into exploratory, validating, and minor fixes during planning sessions."
"The conversation in product management often involves balancing user needs with business goals."
"Empathy mapping allows us to visualize the feelings and thoughts of product managers."
"Real users should validate any solution we think we already know."
More Videos
"Leadership is best when people barely know she exists."
John MaedaMaking Sense of Enterprise UX
June 9, 2016
"Instead of doing it by feature, what if we did it by thinking style?"
Indi YoungThinking styles: Mend hidden cracks in your market
January 8, 2025
"What if design teams and data teams could partner up to solve big customer problems?"
Chris ChapoData Science and Design: A Tale of Two Tribes
May 13, 2015
"Time management in collaboration is more than just meeting deadlines."
Elizabeth ChurchillExploring Cadence: You, Your Team, and Your Enterprise
June 8, 2017
"We really encourage wherever you are because those are great connecting points."
Rusha SopariwalaRemote, Together: Craft and Collaboration Across Disciplines, Borders, Time Zones, and a Design Org of 170+
June 9, 2022
"The design industry is primed for a movement towards ethical practices and accountability."
George AyeThat Quiet Little Voice: When Design and Ethics Collide
November 16, 2022
"Creating space for us to name the things we were experiencing allows us to unload some emotional weight."
Ariba JahanTeam Resiliency Through a Pandemic
January 8, 2024
"Design thinking is a set of behaviors, not just a toolbox of methods."
Julie Gitlin Esther RaiceDesign as an Agent of Digital Transformation at JPMC
June 9, 2021
"We should help our users follow a process and understand what could be useful for us and why."
Matteo GrattonCan Data and Ethics Live Together?
October 1, 2021
