🤐 Stop asking questions to find insights / PM Snacks 63

Learn how to improve your discovery interviews by not asking questions, a few good principles and how "the browser company" works on its wonderfully crafted new web browser (Arc)

After reading this edition, if you find the content useful, consider liking it (❤️ is next to my profile picture). It helps me better understand what topics are interesting for you!

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Hey, it’s been my longest break (almost 2mo) since I started writing this newsletter. I hope you had a beautiful summer. Now, let’s get back to school!

1️⃣  What if we stopped asking questions and just actively listened?
Jul 2022 • 15 min read • #discovery
What if you had been doing it all wrong? Pierre shares some counter-intuitive thoughts on why asking less questions leads to better interviews.
1/ He argues that most people need time to reach the right level of consciousness when asked a question (= necessary to uncover insights)
2/ Stop asking 10 questions in a row. Instead, ask one question, and rephrase + use silence to let people share deeper thoughts

2️⃣  Product Management Principles
May 2020 • 8 min read • #selfimprovement
I’ve been sitting on this link for a while and thought that this was the best time to share it. For me, these principles have been a refresher before “going back to school”. I also happen to love “living documents”, and can’t stress its usefulness enough! Document your best tips (and share it with your team regularly).

3️⃣  Technology Skills for Product Managers
Jun 2020 • 17 min read • #tech
In my company, we’ve been onboarding new people with limited technical knowledge: from mindsets to frameworks. I have shared this article with the new hires many times already since it introduces a few important concepts like client/server side, web stack, programming languages, and databases. If you know someone that wants to learn, share this link!

4️⃣  Optimizing For Feelings
Jun 2022 • 7 min read •  #design #product #inspiration
Sometimes you discover a truly well designed and promising software. In fact it works so well that on a daily basis people spontaneously share why they love it on twitter. It’s completely what I feel too since I started using Arc web browser. I’m fascinated with the way they work. Read the article to learn why they are optimising for “feelings”, browse their company website to learn about their values and watch this brilliant video to discover their vision. It’s peak performance kind of content! So inspiring.

⏳  Why do people hate product managers?
Aug 2021 • 4 min read • #selfimprovement
Most clicked link, shared one year ago in PM Snacks 44.
If you are lucky, you might have just enjoyed a vacation and you're well-rested... Keep calm for this breaking news: 1/ some people hate us, 2/ for good reasons. Learn more about our sins and what to do to avoid them. I've been an over-stepper at times until I learned to empower the team (this article from PM Snacks #35 might help) & can still be a complexifier (when I'm passionate about a product). What about you?

— Last but not least, my favorite Twitter joke…

Dani Halfin @dani_half

I feel personally attacked 😅

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A warm welcome to the 69 new subscribers, we are now 2184 readers strong!

Thank you for reading this far.
Have a great week!

Olivier Courtois 
10y+ in product, co-founder of 🥕 uku.wtf, coach & advisor

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