June 16, 2025·
post
Trust the Doctor (The Product Manager as General Physician)
Trust the Doctor (The Product Manager as General Physician)
YOU GOTTA TRUST THE DOCTOR.
In a problem space, the PM is like a general physician:
- You listen to the symptoms (users).
- You read the reports (data).
- You consult with specialists (design, tech, marketing, sales).
- You know the direction (intent, progress, growth, profit)
And you form a diagnosis. And a strategy.
But here's the twist: in tech, the patient is also the CEO.
You may give the most informed opinion, but sometimes the final decision isn’t yours.
A general physician doesn’t have a bias for a particular specialty. They’re the only one trying to diagnose the problem on its own merit; not fitting it into their favorite solution.
But even they know when to pass the baton, not because they failed, but because someone else is better positioned to lead the next leg. It’s about what the problem needs, not what your ego wants.
And yet, how often do non-PMs try to tell PMs how to PM?
That’s like going to a doctor, describing symptoms, then writing your own prescription. If you knew it all, you wouldn’t need the doctor. Right?
Sometimes, you trust the diagnosis.
Other times, you switch the doctor.
It doesn't necessarily mean the old one was bad.
It just means you gotta try something new.
P.S. Thank you Dr Rajesh Dr Jyoti Meena for being that doctor. Literally.
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