How to level up your product game (and keep your sanity)

Here at Collato, we believe in supporting each other. Of course, our product, blog, and podcast are invaluable resources for product managers and their teams. But we're happy to show you some of our other favorite tools, too. Together, we shine.

In this blog post, we've compiled a list of the top resources for product managers across various categories. These will get you well on your way to becoming the absolute best product manager you can be.

Books

Books are a great starting point. Professionals and experts write the ones on this list, and every one of them is a wealth of knowledge. Make sure to take notes and highlight anything that stands out to you! Included in the following list are also a few resources on the future of work and how to lead an innovative team:

1. "Inspired" by Marty Cagan is a must-read for product managers who want to learn how to build successful products that customers love. It provides insights into product strategy, design, and development.
2. "The Lean Product Playbook" by Dan Olsen is a practical guide to building successful products using lean principles. It provides a step-by-step process for product managers to follow.
3. "Cracking the PM Interview" by Gayle McDowell and Jackie Bavaro looks to improve PMs interview skills. It is a great way to prepare for interviews and answers common interview questions.
4. "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman is a must-read for product managers who want to learn more about human-centered design. It provides insights on how to design products that are easy to use and understand.
5. "Sprint" by Jake Knapp outlines design sprints, a process for solving complex problems and testing new ideas. It provides a step-by-step process for product managers to follow.
6. "The Making of a Manager" by Julie Zhuo is a guide for new managers, including those who have been promoted from individual contributor roles in product management.
7. "Hooked" by Nir Eyal is a great resource on how to build habit-forming products. It provides a framework for product managers to create products that keep users coming back.
8. "Radical Candor" by Kim Scott guides effective communication and leadership. It provides insights on how to give feedback and build a strong team culture.
9. "Remote: Office Not Required" by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson explains how to build and manage a remote team. It's a must-read for product managers who want to stay up-to-date on the future of work.
10. "The Future of Work" by Jacob Morgan talks about the future of work, including trends in remote work, automation, and collaboration. It's a great read for product managers who want to stay ahead of the curve.

Blogs

Blogs are also an invaluable resource. One of their biggest strengths is that they are a bit more adaptable than their book counterparts. Blogs stay up on trends quite a bit more than books can, and innovation is always at the forefront. The following blogs are the best,

1. Collato (welcome!) has a rich mix of content specifically for product managers, future of work, leadership, and more. It is a great way to become a well-rounded product manager. Collato focuses on adaptable management and building strong relationships with customers and stakeholders. Plus, it's written by people with a bunch of different professional backgrounds and years of experience in the field!
2. Mind the Product is a popular blog for product managers that provides insights on product management, design, and strategy. It features articles written by experienced product managers, designers, and entrepreneurs.
3. ProductPlan helps PMs to prioritize features and communicate with stakeholders. It also features interviews with successful product managers and entrepreneurs.
4. Intercom has some invaluable advice for customer engagement.
5. Aha! features articles written by experienced product managers, and it provides practical advice for creating a successful product roadmap.

Product management podcasts

Podcasts have the same strengths as blogs. They're current, fun, and informative. But they're also a great way to integrate learning into your daily routine. Play them on your commute or at the gym. Or pause and resume whenever an episode fits into your busy schedule.

1. For What it's Work - Collato's podcast (hello again!) provides invaluable insights on the future of work, collaboration, and ego and leadership. It focuses on how product managers can shape professional space to be more human-centric and inclusive.
2. This is Product Management is a very popular podcast that thoroughly examines product management, design, and strategy.
3. Product Breakfast Club is a podcast that provides practical advice for product managers on how to build successful products.
4. Product to Product is a podcast that details product management, design, and development. It presents interviews with experienced product managers, designers, and developers.
5. Rocketship.fm is a podcast that provides insights on product management, entrepreneurship, and startups. It features interviews with successful entrepreneurs and product managers, and it provides practical advice for building and growing a business.

Product management newsletters

Newsletters are a great way to stay up to date on specific developments in your profession. They're a great way to stay informed and keep your team up-to-date with industry standards.

1. Lenny's Newsletter is a weekly newsletter that gives an excellent overview of product management, design, and even development. It features articles, videos, and resources curated by experienced product managers, too.
2. Product Manager HQ is another weekly newsletter that provides practical advice for product managers on how to build successful products. It features articles, tools, and resources curated by experienced product managers.
3. Product Talk is another weekly newsletter with tips and tricks for successful development - which can't be understated.
4. Mind the Product is a monthly newsletter that provides insights on product management, design, and strategy.
5. Product Roadmap is a weekly newsletter that invaluable when it comes to roadmapping.
   

PM videos/YouTube channels

Videos are often short format answers to quick-to-answer problems. If you want to learn more about a topic, or need a quick question answered, Youtube is an increasingly good place to look.

1. Product School is a YouTube channel that features videos on development. It provides incredibly useful advice for product managers who want to build successful products.
2. Mind the Product is a YouTube channel that focuses on design and strategy. It provides insights on how to build a great product and create a successful product team.
3. 280 Group is a YouTube channel centered on product management, strategy, and roadmapping. Sucessful roadmapping as at the forefront of this one.
4. ProductPlan is a YouTube channel that has informative videos on product management and roadmapping. It has useful tips for product managers who want to build a successful product roadmap.
5. Pragmatic Institute is a YouTube channel that provides practical advice for product managers who want to create successful products.
   

Subscriptions and trainings

If you're serious about learning more about product management or honing your skills, don't overlook how helpful subscriptions can be.

1. Product School Pro is a subscription service that has online courses, coaching, and mentorship for product managers. It is designed to help product managers build successful products and advance their careers.
2. Product Manager HQ Premium is another subscription service that provides access to a community of experienced product managers, online courses, and resources. It is designed to help product managers build successful products and advance their careers.
3. Mind the Product Pro has exclusive content, online courses, and resources for product managers. It is designed to help product managers build successful products and advance their careers.
4. Pragmatic Institute offers a range of training and certification programs for product managers. Their subscription service provides access to online courses, resources, and events for product managers.
5. Product School Corporate Training also offers customized training and coaching programs for companies that want to build successful products. Their subscription service provides access to online courses, resources, and expert coaching for product teams.

Websites

A few websites will come up time-and-time-again when you need a product management resource. Bookmark them and have 'em ready.

1. Mind the Product is a website that provides insights on product management, design, and strategy. It features articles, videos, and resources curated by experienced product managers.
2. Product Manager HQ is a website that provides practical advice for product managers on how to build successful products. It features articles, tools, and resources curated by experienced product managers.
3. Product School is a website that provides online courses, resources, and coaching for product managers. It is designed to help product managers build successful products and advance their careers.
4. Aha! is a product management tool that is used by many product managers to create and manage product roadmaps, prioritize features, and communicate with their teams.
5. UserTesting is a user research platform that is used by many product managers to gather feedback from their users and improve their products.
   

Conferences for product managers

A good ol' fashion conference can sometimes be a great way to learn more, network with others in your industry, and grow your company's presence.

1. Mind the Product hosts an annual conference that brings together product managers from around the world to share insights and best practices.
2. ProductCon is a series of conferences hosted by Product School, featuring talks and workshops on product management, design, and development.
3. Industry is a conference that brings product managers, designers, and developers together to discuss the latest trends and best practices in product management.
4. ProductCamp is a loosely structured conferences, 'unconference,' for product managers, where attendees can lead sessions and discuss topics that are relevant to them.
5. The Product Management Festival is a conference that brings together product managers from around the world to share insights and best practices.

Go get 'em, tiger 🐯🐅

Being a successful product manager requires a constant desire to learn and grow. With abundant resources available, there's no excuse not to stay informed and continually improve your skills. Take advantage of the tools and tips in this guide, and you'll be well on your way to becoming an exceptional product manager! Remember: collaboration is key, and the possibilities are endless with the right resources and a supportive community.