How Stoicism can help you as a Product Manager in 2023
Can this ancient Greek & Roman philosophy give Product Managers an edge in 2023? Being a Stoic can help Product Managers stay focused on what matters most and remain calm under pressure.
Table of Contents
What is Stoicism?
Stoicism & Product Management
6 Stoic principles that can help Product Managers thrive
Stoic resources
The Stoic philosophy is an ancient way of life that focuses on practical wisdom and self-control. As a Product Manager, adopting a Stoic mindset can have great benefits, as it teaches us to be mindful and intentional in our work without the ego or emotional attachment that often comes with the job.
If I had to explain Stoicism as a user story, it would go something like this:
As a product manager
when I face a challenge or failure in my role
I want to be able to stay calm, objective and intentional
so that I can scale my efforts, move on quickly, and learn from the experience.
I first started reading about Stoicism when I stumbled across Ryan Holiday on Twitter in 2021. I have always loved content about self-improvement, mastery, and alternative perspectives so the stuff Ryan was talking about was right up my street. I delved deeper and bought The Daily Stoic book, and started consuming more content on Stoicism throughout 2022.
I have grown to really love the philosophy and teachings of Stoicism, and I try to consciously apply a Stoic mindset to my work as a PM and also in my personal life.
Ok, so what is Stoicism?!
Stoicism is an ancient Greek and Roman philosophy that advocates living in a way that emphasises spiritual development, morality and resilience. It focuses on the virtue of self-control, as well as accepting what is out of one's control, such as external events or circumstances. Practicing Stoicism can help to cultivate inner peace and clarity of thought, enabling us to approach life with greater equanimity and strength. Additionally, it emphasises personal responsibility for thoughts and actions, encouraging individuals to strive for self-improvement and to live a life of integrity.
You will appreciate how useful this could be for a Product Manager who has influence but no authority. If you take only one thing from this post, it should be the mindset of being able to accept and focus on what is within your control and what isn’t (think priorities, budgets, hiring, resourcing, etc).
Here’s an introduction to Stoicism (not product related, more of a general overview):
Stoicism & Product Management
Being a Stoic can help Product Managers like us to maintain an even keel in the face of uncertainty (think: ever-changing scope and roadmap), stay focused on what matters most (think: highest priorities and most impactful features), and remain calm under pressure (think: deadlines, stakeholder management). It also encourages us to take responsibility for our successes and more importantly our failures, rather than pointing fingers at external factors or people. With this approach, Product Managers are better able to prioritise tasks and make decisions with clarity and conviction.
Ultimately, a Stoic mindset can help Product Managers become more productive and successful in their roles.
6 Stoic principles that can help Product Managers thrive
Rationality: Stoicism emphasises the importance of using reason to understand and navigate the world. As a Product Manager, you will often have to make decisions under uncertainty and pressure, and the ability to think clearly and rationally can be essential for making good decisions.
Virtue: Living in accordance with moral values such as wisdom, justice, courage, and self-control. This can be particularly important in the role of a Product Manager, as you will often be responsible for managing and leading a team, and setting a good example through your own actions and behaviour can be crucial for building trust with stakeholders and fostering a positive work environment.
Acceptance: The Stoic philosophy of accepting whatever happens in life, whether good or bad, as part of the natural order of things can be helpful in managing the unpredictable nature of product development and maintaining a sense of equanimity.
Resilience: By embracing the Stoic mindset of accepting whatever happens, you can approach challenges and setbacks with resilience, rather than becoming overwhelmed or discouraged.
Self-control: The Stoic emphasis on self-control can be useful for a Product Manager in managing their own emotions and reactions, as well as those of their team, and maintaining a calm and measured approach to decision-making.
Focus: The Stoic philosophy encourages focusing on what is within your control, rather than getting caught up in external circumstances or events that you cannot change. This can be helpful for Product Managers in prioritising their efforts and staying focused on what is most important for their product and team.
Overall, being a Stoic can provide a Product Manager with a set of tools and mindset for thinking clearly, acting virtuously, and maintaining resilience and self-control in the face of challenges and setbacks, all of which can be crucial for success in this role.
Stoic Resources
If you’re interested in learning more about Stoicism, here are some helpful resources to browse through: