3 Surprising Product Owner Skills That Supercharged Me

Product owner skills go far beyond what's listed in traditional job descriptions. Recently, I tuned into an episode of the “Diary of a CEO” podcast featuring Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify. Finkelstein emphasised the importance of uncovering unexpected skills that complement one's business endeavours. He shared how his time in law school, not to become a lawyer but to extract valuable insights applicable to entrepreneurship, transformed his approach. By gathering knowledge from classes, such as memo writing, he was able to refine his communication style and sound more sophisticated.

The essence of Finkelstein's message resonated deeply: identifying and cultivating unconventional skills can elevate one's entrepreneurial journey. Steve Jobs was mentioned as an exemplar, who leveraged design and typography classes to shape Apple's iconic aesthetic. Furthermore, Finkelstein's own DJing background provided invaluable insights, teaching him to gauge the room's atmosphere, a skill that proved invaluable in business meetings.

After listening to the entrepreneurship-focused podcast, I couldn't help but reflect on the pivotal role of entrepreneurial skills—a crucial product owner skill. Just like an entrepreneur, a product owner needs to think strategically, identify opportunities, and navigate challenges to ensure the success of their product. The ability to innovate, take calculated risks, and adapt to changing market dynamics are essential product owner skills that can differentiate professionals in today's competitive landscape. By embodying an entrepreneurial mindset, product owners (PO) can drive innovation, create value for their customers, and ultimately drive their products to greater heights of success.

All this got me thinking: what are the unexpected product owner skills that have helped me succeed in this role?

Core product owner skills: Beyond the job description

While traditional job postings focus on technical requirements, the most impactful product owner skills often come from unexpected places. Let's explore three unconventional skills that have proven invaluable in my product owner journey.

1. Storytelling: A critical product owner skill

During my university years, I worked as a waitress, where I often found myself sharing snippets of my background with curious guests. Over time, I learned to summarise my story into a few engaging minutes, leaving them delighted. This taught me the ability to convey an idea or a story behind a project which is a crucial Product owner skill.

This skill becomes especially important for larger projects because clear communication of the business idea ensures everyone, including business owners and development teams, is on the same page. In a collaborative environment where challenges are common and stakeholders question the necessity or complexity of features, consider yourself lucky. It's in these moments that you grow as a professional and you learn how to meet your audience at eye level by tailoring your storytelling approach accordingly. Having a well-articulated story not only facilitates understanding but also encourages constructive dialogue which is the key to a successful project. 

Why storytelling matters for POs:

• Ensures stakeholder alignment on business objectives
• Facilitates clear communication between business owners and development teams
• Helps navigate complex feature discussions with confidence
• Creates emotional connection to product vision

This PO skill becomes especially important for larger projects because clear communication of the business idea ensures everyone, including business owners and development teams, is on the same page. In collaborative environments where challenges are common and stakeholders question the necessity or complexity of features, consider yourself lucky. It's in these moments that you grow as a professional and learn how to meet your audience at eye level by tailoring your storytelling approach accordingly.

Having a well-articulated story not only facilitates understanding but also encourages constructive dialogue - the key to successful project delivery. Product owner skills in storytelling directly impact team productivity and project outcomes.

2. Sales: An underrated product owner skill

Growing up, I was immersed in the world of sales through my parents' wholesale retailing business. While other kids enjoyed their summer vacations with television, I found myself assisting my parents in running the business. At the time, I resented the idea, but looking back, I'm grateful for the precious lessons it conveyed. Through those experiences, I learned the art of upselling, persuading clients to consider products they weren't initially sold on. Taking calculated risks, I'd offer assurances like "just try it, and if it doesn't work out, you can return it."

Interestingly,  this same  approach is still applicable and is being used under the term “trial period” for digital products. Everyday price negotiations taught me how to set boundaries while preserving client relationships. Fast forward several years into my career selling ideas to both business and technical stakeholders became natural to me. I recall a pivotal moment when pitching a complex feature still in the design phase to a client. Although expensive, I negotiated to ensure the feature's universality while meeting the client's needs. In the end, compromise prevailed, and we found common ground. 

How sales skills benefit product owners:

• Enables effective stakeholder buy-in for product features
• Supports strategic negotiation during scope discussions
• Builds confidence in presenting complex technical concepts
• Develops resilience when facing product roadblocks

Fast forward several years into my career, selling ideas to both business and technical stakeholders became natural to me. I recall a pivotal moment when pitching a complex feature still in the design phase to a client. Although expensive, I negotiated to ensure the feature's universality while meeting the client's needs. In the end, compromise prevailed, and we found common ground. This experience highlighted how sales-related product owner skills directly contribute to successful product outcomes.

3. Cultural competency: An essential PO skill for global teams

Participating in charity activities has always been a passion of mine, as I firmly believe in giving back to society. Through my involvement in numerous charity events, I've come to recognize the utmost significance of understanding and respecting diverse perspectives, cultures, and communities. Growing up in a European capital with an Asian background provided me with firsthand experience in handling cultural differences. I spent my childhood immersed in active listening, eagerly absorbing language and cultural nuances to better understand and adapt to my environment. This early exposure taught me of the importance of active listening and empathy - fundamental product owner skills that many professionals seem to overlook.

Cultural competency as product owner skills:

• Enables effective communication across diverse development teams
• Supports inclusive product design decisions
• Builds stronger stakeholder relationships globally
• Enhances user research and market understanding

In the context of navigating business stakeholders and teams across different countries and cultures, cultural competency becomes even more critical as a product owner skill. By understanding the challenges and needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds, we can establish stronger, more meaningful relationships. These relationships are not only crucial for promoting collective work but also for managing the complexities of the business world with empathy and cultural sensitivity.

Developing your product owner skills portfolio

While these skills may appear obvious, they're often hidden as product owner skills in job descriptions. Job postings tend to highlight requirements like "demonstrated team collaboration" or "exceptional communication and leadership abilities." However, what truly distinguishes you is the wealth of experience you offer, beyond just your technical product owner capabilities.

Key takeaways for aspiring product owners:

• Traditional product owner skills are just the foundation
• Unique experiences often translate to valuable professional competencies
• Self-reflection reveals hidden strengths applicable to product management
• Diverse skill sets create competitive advantages in the job market

While employers typically seek domain expertise, technical proficiency, and effective communication from product owners, having a solid foundation in fundamental skills means acquiring domain knowledge becomes a natural progression. This approach aligns perfectly with the concept of t-shaped skills, where professionals combine deep expertise in one area with broad knowledge across multiple disciplines. These product owner skills create a strong foundation for career growth and professional success.

Conclusion

To be honest, these aren't just product owner skills - other technical professionals can also use them to advance in their careers. If you take time to self-reflect, you'll be able to grasp the experiences you've had and use them to improve yourself professionally, making you a valuable asset in any role.

Product owner skills extend far beyond what's listed in job descriptions. The most successful product owners combine traditional technical competencies with unexpected abilities gained through diverse life experiences. Whether it's storytelling from customer service, sales skills from family business, or cultural competency from community involvement, these unique product owner skills set professionals apart in today's competitive landscape.

So, have you thought about the skills that supercharged you on your career path? What unexpected product owner skills have you developed that could transform your professional journey?

So, have you thought about the skills that supercharged you on your career path?