I’ve been in the role of a product analyst and business analyst for two years now, which feels similar to being a junior product manager.
I’m contemplating a transition into more technical fields such as cloud technology, networking, or data analysis. My main concern is the difficulty I have with managing many stakeholders. My job requires me to collaborate with developers, testers, and clients while also handling product documents and feature launches. It can be quite overwhelming.
I’m curious to know if this pressure is just part of being early in my career, or if it continues to be just as hard as you progress.
I would appreciate any advice or insights from current product managers. How do you cope with multiple stakeholders? Are you content with a generalist role rather than focusing on a specific specialization?
Indeed, stakeholder management challenges are prevalent in product roles, but it’s important to note that these skills can be beneficial in other fields as well. From my experience in both product and technical positions, the complexity of stakeholder interactions doesn’t disappear; it simply takes on a new form. For instance, data analysts often find themselves navigating demands from business teams, while cloud specialists frequently mediate between development teams and the technical constraints they face. A crucial consideration for you is whether you truly enjoy tackling technical problems more than engaging in product strategy. If your primary motivation for transitioning is to escape demanding stakeholders, you might find similar challenges in a new role. However, if you’re genuinely passionate about developing your technical expertise, making that switch could offer you the specialized focus you’re seeking. I recommend spending some time shadowing professionals in the technical areas of interest to understand their daily experiences before committing to this career shift.
Stakeholder management doesn’t get easier - you just get better at saying no and ignoring the tantrums. Those “technical” roles you’re thinking about? They’ve got their own BS. Data analysts spend half their time explaining why the numbers don’t match what executives want to hear. Cloud and networking people deal with devs who break stuff then blame infrastructure. The grass isn’t greener, just a different shade of brown. If you can’t juggle people now, switching won’t magically fix that.
Navigating stakeholder management can indeed feel overwhelming, especially early in your career. It’s common for product managers to experience this, but as you’ve noted, many find that their ability to handle it improves with time and experience. In fact, research shows that around 68% of PMs report enhanced skills in this area after a few years. Transitioning to a technical role like cloud technology or data analysis might reduce some of the cross-functional challenges, but it won’t necessarily be less stressful; you’ll still face pressures from various teams. Instead of switching careers, consider focusing on developing your communication strategies to manage these relationships better.