Product Hits: March 17, 2025

Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in!

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​Bureaucrat mode by Andrew Chen

Andrew Chen, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, examines the shift from decisive, fast-paced "Founder Mode" to the slow, process-heavy "Bureaucrat Mode" that often takes over as companies scale. Chen warns product managers about the dangers of excessive meetings, consensus-driven decision-making, and vanity metrics, which can stifle innovation.

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​The Automation Paradox by Ary Gulati

Ary Gulati, product manager at Microsoft, explores the tension between efficiency and individuality. He asks his fellow PMs to design systems that balance standardization with autonomy, fostering creativity and human expression alongside optimized workflows.

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​The Paradigm of Prestige by Victor Cheng

Victor Cheng, VP of Product at LivePerson, explores how implicit paradigms, such as valuing prestige, wealth, or status, shape decisions and interactions. He encourages product managers to consciously examine these frameworks, questioning whether they align with their values and goals.

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Behind the Scenes

Hey there, it’s Clement! In my recent coaching sessions with PMs, I've seen that stress and pressure has become the most top-of-mind focus now.

I totally get it. Markets are volatile right now, and technology is evolving insanely quickly. That's sometimes why I joke that PM stands for "pressure manager", haha.

At any given moment, we’re juggling deadlines, shifting market conditions, and stakeholder conflicts. I’ve had weeks where it felt like the whole roadmap was on fire.

But I’ve also learned that how we handle that pressure makes all the difference between staying in control and feeling overwhelmed.

Here’s what’s helped me keep my head above water:

• Pause before reacting. My first instinct used to be to jump into problem-solving mode. But I’ve learned that a five-second pause before responding often leads to a better outcome. A little distance helps me focus on what really matters.
• Delegate more than feels comfortable. A common PM trap is thinking, “It’s just easier if I do it myself.” I’ve been there. But the times I’ve deliberately handed things off, not only did my team step up, but they often executed better than I would have.
• Use tools to reduce, not increase, mental load. If I find myself managing a tool instead of letting it manage work for me, I rethink my setup.
• Strategic breaks over burnout sprints. It took me way too long to realize that cranking through exhaustion makes my work worse. A 5-minute walk or a quick reset doesn’t waste time. In fact, it helps me make better decisions faster.

The PM role will never be stress-free. But how we navigate the chaos determines whether we can thrive in it.

How do you keep your head above water when things get overwhelming? I'd love to hear your strategies!

With love,
Clement

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