Influence is the superpower of good product people. Few people report to your average PM, but they have outsized impact on their organization. They provide direction on what to build to Engineering; they provide direction on target markets and messaging to Marketing; they recommend alliances and acquisitions to Business Development, etc.
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When it's working well, a PM's influence brings multiple departments together with a roadmap that drives the company toward the vision set out by top management.
When it is not working, the PM is tossed about on a sea of strong opinions, has difficulty in setting priorities, and becomes the whipping boy or girl for everyone's frustrations with poor business results.
Where are you in the pecking order? How do you switch from dysfunctional to superhero? Tell me a story.