Do You Really Need a Product Manager?
The Three Types of Product Managers and When to Hire Them
Do you really need a Product Manager? Hiring a PM too early can be a waste of resources. Only when design and engineering teams are overwhelmed, and most product decisions go through the founders, is it time to bring this profile into your team. In the early stages of a startup, founders typically take on product leadership while engineers and designers handle execution. However, this structure has its limits. As the startup grows, lacking a Product Manager can cause bottlenecks, dilute the vision, and make cross-team coordination difficult.
Now, let’s imagine you’re ready to hire a Product Manager. A common mistake is assuming all PMs are the same. To avoid listing all the types of Product Managers, we’ll simplify it into three categories:
Pioneers: These PMs specialize in ideating and building new products or services. They are ideal for early-stage startups or innovation areas within larger companies.
Builders: These PMs focus on scaling products and optimizing processes. They are perfect for growing companies.
Planners: These PMs excel in managing mature and complex products, making them ideal for products with thousands of users.
Hiring a Product Manager should be a strategic decision based on your company's needs and goals. Waiting too long can hinder growth, but hiring too early can waste valuable resources.