The product manager as a connector

Product managers serve as the essential connectors between different functions and perspectives within an organization. They stand at the intersection of business, technology, and design, often called "the product triangle." This role requires them to translate between different "languages" and priorities. As connectors, they're responsible for making sure everyone understands the product vision and how their work supports it.

This means they need to communicate differently with engineers, marketers, and executives. Engineers need technical context and clear requirements. Executives care more about business value and market opportunity. Their job isn’t just to pass messages between teams. It’s to make sure teams work well together, stay aligned, and aim for the same goals. That kind of alignment takes ongoing effort.

Good product managers know their role goes beyond deciding what to build. They also explain how and why decisions are made. Since the product team sets the strategy and decides what to prioritize, it's important for them to share the thinking behind those choices with other departments. That helps keep everyone working effectively together.