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PM Managers vs. Super ICs in the Age of AI: Navigating the Evolving Role of Product Managers
Sep 27, 2024
Explore how AI is reshaping the role of PMs, including how PM responsibilities are shifting, rethinking career growth amid AI advancements, and choosing the right company and role to progress your career.
Navigating the Changing Split Between IC and Management Work
Adapt to the evolving responsibilities between traditional IC work and management. The role of a PM manager is shifting to a “player-coach” role as AI and automation transform tasks that were traditionally handled by PMs. PM managers now need to learn when to dive into detailed work and when to step back to take on strategic oversight. This change often involves identifying which tasks can be automated or delegated to maximize team efficiency. The rise of the "player-coach" model means that PM managers are not just guiding their teams but also getting hands-on, writing specs, and driving projects forward. With leaner teams, managers must balance coaching and guiding their team with actively contributing to product work.
"I see this as a time where the PM manager’s role is rapidly evolving...you're coaching and at the same time you are driving the specs, you're moving things forward. You have to be comfortable diving down to that 30-foot view and saying, 'I’m gonna get my hands dirty. I’m gonna figure out what’s actually going on, and I’m gonna do the job that I’m gonna then later hire for.’”
Career ladders are collapsing, and the clear divide between IC and management tracks is fading. Today, the expectation is that managers actively participate in the execution, focusing on impact rather than simply overseeing a large team.
Career Progression in the Age of AI
Rethink career growth as AI changes the PM landscape. AI is fundamentally changing how PMs work, making it possible for "Super ICs"—those who excel as individual contributors—to have a significant impact without transitioning into management. The focus is shifting towards how much value one can bring to the company, whether by leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity, promoting cross-functional collaboration, or driving product innovation. In this new landscape, domain expertise, especially in complex fields like payments or machine learning, becomes increasingly important.
"You need one person who's really experienced, and has domain expertise. These days, domain expertise is more valuable than anything else because that is hard to come by and there is a scarcity factor."
PMs need to adapt to these shifts and find the right balance between strategic vision and hands-on execution.
Leveraging Tools to Enhance Productivity
Embrace AI tools to boost productivity while balancing IC and managerial responsibilities. Today, effective PMs harness AI and other tools to streamline their workflows. This isn't about replacing designers, developers, or other stakeholders but about enhancing collaboration and making more informed decisions. AI tools can assist in creating specs, automating repetitive tasks, and synthesizing insights from various sources, enabling PMs to focus on higher-impact activities. By adopting these tools, PMs can delegate the more tedious aspects of their work and focus on creatively solving problems and driving outcomes.
"If you're a PM: how do you make it so that you are doing the thinking work — you are doing the differentiated, high leverage work — and you are letting the really manual and tedious work fall away to the tools?"
However, it’s crucial to use these tools thoughtfully, ensuring they support the team's work rather than stepping on others' roles.
Focus on Company Growth Over Title
Prioritize opportunities for impact over traditional career markers. As AI reshapes the product management landscape, the most significant career advancements often come from being part of a growing company with a compelling mission. Rather than fixating on titles or the number of direct reports, PMs should seek roles that offer opportunities to drive tangible results. Choosing a role at a company with high growth potential, even if it's not a managerial position, can lead to more meaningful career progression in the long term.
"The thing that matters most is company growth. In that list, at the very bottom is going to be your title."
It's more beneficial to be part of a company where you can make a significant impact than to chase titles or the size of your team.
Q&A Highlights: Navigating Product Management in the Age of AI
During the Q&A, we tackled some crucial questions about the evolving PM landscape:
Balancing the Super IC and Player-Coach Models: Senior product leaders must effectively lead "Super ICs" while also balancing their own roles. Being a "player-coach" means leaders must be comfortable diving into the details, understanding the product deeply, and actively contributing to the work. This hands-on approach enables them to provide more effective guidance and advocate for the product and team needs.
"If you don't understand what it is you are really trying to do, how are you going to ask machines to do that thing?"
AI's Role in Enabling Focus on Strategy: AI tools give PMs the room to focus more on strategic thinking and vision. However, PMs need to understand the problem deeply before they can effectively leverage AI for execution.
Hiring and Promoting in the Age of the Super IC: There's a growing preference for promoting individuals who already have deep context within the company, such as those from support, design, or data roles. The ability to learn quickly, think from first principles, and communicate effectively remains critical. Domain expertise, especially in areas like payments or AI, is becoming increasingly valuable.
"I've converted people from the support role into a PM role because they just have such deep context the barrier to entry is lower."
Cross-Functional Collaboration with AI Tools: With the influx of new AI tools, it's essential to maintain strong cross-functional relationships. PMs should focus on facilitating their teams' work rather than stepping into their roles.
"The core of a PM job is that partnership...how do you evaluate the tools that your team is using? How do you get more out of them?"
Conclusion: Thriving as a PM in the Age of AI
In "PM Managers vs. Super ICs in the Age of AI," JZ highlighted the need for product managers to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. From navigating the changing split of responsibilities to leveraging AI tools for enhanced productivity, PMs must focus on creating value. Whether you're charting a path as a PM manager or a Super IC, the key lies in finding the right balance between individual contributions and strategic oversight.
How will you adapt your approach to your product management career in the face of AI's growing influence?
Go deeper with JZ’s course, 'Managing Your PM Career.' Learn to design your career roadmap, identify your next milestones, and confidently navigate towards them. This course is for PMs who have mastered the core skills and are ready to take the next step in their careers. Join a community of ambitious PMs and uncover how to demystify career growth, find the right company and role for you, and grow your impact to get recognized and promoted.
Explore how AI is reshaping the role of PMs, including how PM responsibilities are shifting, rethinking career growth amid AI advancements, and choosing the right company and role to progress your career.
Navigating the Changing Split Between IC and Management Work
Adapt to the evolving responsibilities between traditional IC work and management. The role of a PM manager is shifting to a “player-coach” role as AI and automation transform tasks that were traditionally handled by PMs. PM managers now need to learn when to dive into detailed work and when to step back to take on strategic oversight. This change often involves identifying which tasks can be automated or delegated to maximize team efficiency. The rise of the "player-coach" model means that PM managers are not just guiding their teams but also getting hands-on, writing specs, and driving projects forward. With leaner teams, managers must balance coaching and guiding their team with actively contributing to product work.
"I see this as a time where the PM manager’s role is rapidly evolving...you're coaching and at the same time you are driving the specs, you're moving things forward. You have to be comfortable diving down to that 30-foot view and saying, 'I’m gonna get my hands dirty. I’m gonna figure out what’s actually going on, and I’m gonna do the job that I’m gonna then later hire for.’”
Career ladders are collapsing, and the clear divide between IC and management tracks is fading. Today, the expectation is that managers actively participate in the execution, focusing on impact rather than simply overseeing a large team.
Career Progression in the Age of AI
Rethink career growth as AI changes the PM landscape. AI is fundamentally changing how PMs work, making it possible for "Super ICs"—those who excel as individual contributors—to have a significant impact without transitioning into management. The focus is shifting towards how much value one can bring to the company, whether by leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity, promoting cross-functional collaboration, or driving product innovation. In this new landscape, domain expertise, especially in complex fields like payments or machine learning, becomes increasingly important.
"You need one person who's really experienced, and has domain expertise. These days, domain expertise is more valuable than anything else because that is hard to come by and there is a scarcity factor."
PMs need to adapt to these shifts and find the right balance between strategic vision and hands-on execution.
Leveraging Tools to Enhance Productivity
Embrace AI tools to boost productivity while balancing IC and managerial responsibilities. Today, effective PMs harness AI and other tools to streamline their workflows. This isn't about replacing designers, developers, or other stakeholders but about enhancing collaboration and making more informed decisions. AI tools can assist in creating specs, automating repetitive tasks, and synthesizing insights from various sources, enabling PMs to focus on higher-impact activities. By adopting these tools, PMs can delegate the more tedious aspects of their work and focus on creatively solving problems and driving outcomes.
"If you're a PM: how do you make it so that you are doing the thinking work — you are doing the differentiated, high leverage work — and you are letting the really manual and tedious work fall away to the tools?"
However, it’s crucial to use these tools thoughtfully, ensuring they support the team's work rather than stepping on others' roles.
Focus on Company Growth Over Title
Prioritize opportunities for impact over traditional career markers. As AI reshapes the product management landscape, the most significant career advancements often come from being part of a growing company with a compelling mission. Rather than fixating on titles or the number of direct reports, PMs should seek roles that offer opportunities to drive tangible results. Choosing a role at a company with high growth potential, even if it's not a managerial position, can lead to more meaningful career progression in the long term.
"The thing that matters most is company growth. In that list, at the very bottom is going to be your title."
It's more beneficial to be part of a company where you can make a significant impact than to chase titles or the size of your team.
Q&A Highlights: Navigating Product Management in the Age of AI
During the Q&A, we tackled some crucial questions about the evolving PM landscape:
Balancing the Super IC and Player-Coach Models: Senior product leaders must effectively lead "Super ICs" while also balancing their own roles. Being a "player-coach" means leaders must be comfortable diving into the details, understanding the product deeply, and actively contributing to the work. This hands-on approach enables them to provide more effective guidance and advocate for the product and team needs.
"If you don't understand what it is you are really trying to do, how are you going to ask machines to do that thing?"
AI's Role in Enabling Focus on Strategy: AI tools give PMs the room to focus more on strategic thinking and vision. However, PMs need to understand the problem deeply before they can effectively leverage AI for execution.
Hiring and Promoting in the Age of the Super IC: There's a growing preference for promoting individuals who already have deep context within the company, such as those from support, design, or data roles. The ability to learn quickly, think from first principles, and communicate effectively remains critical. Domain expertise, especially in areas like payments or AI, is becoming increasingly valuable.
"I've converted people from the support role into a PM role because they just have such deep context the barrier to entry is lower."
Cross-Functional Collaboration with AI Tools: With the influx of new AI tools, it's essential to maintain strong cross-functional relationships. PMs should focus on facilitating their teams' work rather than stepping into their roles.
"The core of a PM job is that partnership...how do you evaluate the tools that your team is using? How do you get more out of them?"
Conclusion: Thriving as a PM in the Age of AI
In "PM Managers vs. Super ICs in the Age of AI," JZ highlighted the need for product managers to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. From navigating the changing split of responsibilities to leveraging AI tools for enhanced productivity, PMs must focus on creating value. Whether you're charting a path as a PM manager or a Super IC, the key lies in finding the right balance between individual contributions and strategic oversight.
How will you adapt your approach to your product management career in the face of AI's growing influence?
Go deeper with JZ’s course, 'Managing Your PM Career.' Learn to design your career roadmap, identify your next milestones, and confidently navigate towards them. This course is for PMs who have mastered the core skills and are ready to take the next step in their careers. Join a community of ambitious PMs and uncover how to demystify career growth, find the right company and role for you, and grow your impact to get recognized and promoted.