TOBY ROGERS

There are a lot of good product managers, but great product managers are few and far between. To get to the very top, you need to have the right qualities.

Ever since my Mum was advised to cut back on my E numbers as a child, I’ve been coping with the symptoms of ADHD. Far from being a hindrance, though, I’ve found some of the traits associated with an attention deficit disorder can be an advantage, particularly within the world of startups and software development.

The disciplines of Product Management and Project Management are so intertwined that in many companies the same person is responsible for both. Look closely, though, and you’ll find some fundamental differences between the two roles that, if ignored, can have a huge impact on your organisation’s ability to deliver world class products. Great Product Management is about much more than just delivering against the milestones on your Gantt Chart, after all.

Is there really one productivity system to rule them all? Millions of words have been written on the best ways to get things done, but that doesn’t mean there’s a right way. Productivity, after all, is dependent on the will of the individual. Just because David Allen says “do it my way”, it doesn’t mean everyone will experience the same results; you’ve got to make personal productivity tips work for you, after all.