Storytelling - A Product Manager’s Secret Weapon

The secret lies in specific storytelling. The first version simply says “we need to fix this.” The second version paints a much more specific and compelling picture with only a few more words. “We have this problem. This is the impact it’s having on the business. If we fix it, here’s the benefit.”

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it is critical to explicitly determine who your target audience is for each of your stories. This helps you determine what information to include, what to exclude and how detailed the story should be.

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Just like you would discuss with your team what outcome you’d want to see if your product was successful, ask the same question about your story. What outcome would you expect if your story found its target audience in a compelling way?

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the first test of efficacy is yourself. Do you believe what you just wrote? Does it inspire and motivate you to take action? Does it paint a clear picture of what you’re trying to achieve? If the answer is yes, ship it. If the answer is no, go back and edit.

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Posted on April 5, 2022