Focus on The Problem More Than The Solution

Today I want to talk about a simple technique that many product managers overlook in their pursuit of shipping products fast.

That technique is: Focusing on the problem more than the solution.

Very often, product managers rush into solving the problem, and they:

1. Create systems to identify promising ideas
2. Follow processes to validate their ideas quickly
3. Have robust product development practices to test, iterate, launch and measure

But what they don’t do is validate if they are solving the right problem.

Let me clarify with an example.

Assume you are the product manager at an online gaming company. Your manager, who just met with the product leadership, approaches you and lets you know that “we have decided to create a loyalty program for our most valuable players.”

You, as the product manager, can respond with two approaches:

First approach:

You ask your manager a few clarifying questions about the solution, timelines, constraints, etc.

Then, you start the typical process: brainstorm loyalty program ideas, shortlist ideas, detail them, present them to your manager / other leaders…