First-time strategy docs intimidate most PMs. After guiding...

40 views Mar 26, 2025 ~3 min read

First-time strategy docs intimidate most PMs.

After guiding countless colleagues through this, I built a framework that works every time.

The 2-minute process for creating winning strategies: 📝👇

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[1/20] First, let's address the elephant: You're probably overwhelmed by fancy frameworks and "thought leadership" posts.

Put those aside. We're going to build this step-by-step, with real examples.

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[2/20] Start with the scaffold, not the masterpiece:

1. Current State
2. Desired Future
3. Path to Get There
4. Success Metrics

That's it. Everything else is decoration.

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[3/20] Product Leaders: Your PM needs psychological safety here. The first strategy doc will be imperfect. That's not just OK - it's necessary for growth.

Give them these guardrails ⬇️

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[4/20] Current State:
- Market position
- Key metrics
- User pain points
- Technical constraints

Skip the SWOT. Focus on evidence over analysis.

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[5/20] Here's where most PMs freeze:
"But I don't have enough data!"

Truth: You have more than you think.

- Support tickets
- Usage metrics
- Sales feedback
- Competitor pricing

Start there.

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[6/20] Product Leaders: Push your PM for specificity here, not comprehensiveness.

Better to have 3 clear insights than 20 vague ones.

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[7/20] Desired Future:

This isn't about "being the # 1 platform."

Structure it:
- User outcomes
- Business metrics
- Technical capabilities
- Market position

Each needs numbers.

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[8/20] Common objection:

"But what if I pick the wrong metrics?"

Reality check: Your first metrics will be wrong.

That's why we iterate quarterly.

Perfect metrics aren't the goal. Learning which metrics matter is.

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[9/20] Product Leaders: Help your PM understand that strategy evolves.

The goal of their first strategy isn't perfection - it's creating a clear basis for productive disagreement.

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[10/20] Path to Get There:

Most PMs overcomplicate this.

You need:
- 3-4 major initiatives
- Clear dependencies
- Resource requirements
- Risk factors

That's it.

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[11/20] This is where I see the most anxiety:

"But how do I know these are the right initiatives?"

You don't.

But having a clear hypothesis + measurement plan > perfect planning

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[12/20] Product Leaders: Your PM needs explicit permission to be wrong here.

Make it clear: You're evaluating their thinking process, not their fortune-telling abilities.

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[13/20] Success Metrics:

The biggest trap: too many metrics.

Pick:
- 1 North Star
- 2-3 Leading Indicators
- 1-2 Guardrail Metrics

That's enough for v1.

[14/20] When I work with PMs on their first strategy, I notice they often have the right instincts but lack confidence in documentation.

I've collected some useful prompts and frameworks for strategy in tiny.cc/product-bundle that can help structure this thinking.

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[15/20] Product Leaders: The best gift you can give your PM here is clarity on decision-making authority.

Be explicit about:
- What they can decide
- What needs consultation
- What requires approval

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[16/20] Now, about stakeholder alignment:

Present your strategy 3 times:
1. Draft review with your leader
2. Peer review with other PMs
3. Final presentation to stakeholders

Each version will improve.

[17/20] I've been experimenting with AI prompts to speed up this process, particularly for structured thinking and documentation.

If you're interested in these prompts, check out AI Prompts for Product Work: tiny.cc/ai-prompts. Would love feedback on what works for you.

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[18/20] Product Leaders: Create space for iteration.

The worst thing you can do is force your PM to get it "perfect" before sharing.

Better: Quick iterations with clear feedback.

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[19/20] Remember: Your first strategy doc isn't your last.

It's better to have a clear, imperfect strategy that teams can execute than a perfect strategy that never ships.

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[20/20] If you found this useful:

1. Bookmark for your next strategy doc
2. Share with a PM who needs this
3. Follow for more practical PM advice

What other strategy topics should we cover next?

First-time strategy docs intimidate most PMs. After guiding...

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