Part 1 - Pro Tips and Techniques Product Managers Need to Know

Beyond basics, driving exceptional outcomes

As a guest on The Frictionless Experience, I challenged the community of Friction Fighters to go above and beyond delivering 5-star customer experiences and shoot for 10 stars.

While a 5-star experience means the minimum was achieved (table stakes like omnichannel engagement, seamless checkout, etc.), 10 stars involve over-delivering value to earn even greater customer trust and loyalty.

During the episode, I provided my frictionless product management framework, which all product managers can use to improve the way they create their digital products and experiences.

But going even deeper, mastering advanced strategies can make all the difference between good and exceptional outcomes. Beyond conventional advice, innovative techniques such as the "Jobs to Be Done" (JTBD) framework, dark launching, and leveraging behavioral economics can propel your product to new heights of success.

Each approach offers a unique perspective that not only enhances user engagement and satisfaction but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement within your team. 

This series is going to cover 10 techniques that every product manager should integrate into their toolkit to drive innovation and efficiency in product development.

For part 1; let’s dive into the Jobs to Be Done Framework

1. Embracing the "Jobs to Be Done" Framework

Beyond traditional user personas, the "Jobs to Be Done" (JTBD) framework provides a nuanced approach to understanding user needs. Instead of focusing solely on demographics, JTBD emphasizes the underlying tasks users are trying to accomplish with your product. This shift in perspective can lead to more innovative solutions and better product-market fit.

Example: For a travel app, instead of targeting "young professionals who love travel," consider the job: "helping users effortlessly plan and book spontaneous weekend getaways."

Tip: Conduct in-depth interviews to uncover the real jobs your users are trying to get done. Ask questions like, "What motivated you to use our product?" and "What obstacles did you encounter?"

JTBD Framework Table:

Embracing the "Jobs to Be Done" (JTBD) framework enables product managers to gain deeper insights into user needs by focusing on the tasks users aim to accomplish rather than their demographics. This approach fosters innovative solutions that better align with real user demands, leading to improved product-market fit and higher user satisfaction. By prioritizing the underlying jobs users are trying to complete, product managers can create more meaningful and impactful experiences, ultimately driving greater customer loyalty and success.

Until next week

Product Protégé