I’m a relatively new associate PM coming from a non-technical background, and imposter syndrome hits hard when I’m in conversations with engineers who want very clear specs and edge cases. Sometimes I feel like I’m slowing down the team because I’m still learning how to write good tickets and translate user needs into real requirements. If there are people here who started in product without a technical degree, what helped you get over that hump??

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Here are my tips:
1. Book 1:1 time with engineers to understand the tech. Interview them and make detailed notes. It’s a lot easier to ask dumb questions this way. Study the notes.
2. Create flow charts and technical diagrams. Use your interview notes to do so. Reflect it back to your engineering buddy and revise. They will appreciate the diagrams too.
3. Ultimately you’re accountable. So you will need to stop a big discussion to ask dumb questions. Do it. Just do the work above too. It will make it easier.

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I’m still living this life. It does get better. Do what you can do. Show value in your area of expertise. For me, it’s the customer experience. I also try to really ask how I can be better for the engineers. If they know you’re trying it’ll go smoother.

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Your job is to be a lifetime learner. The value you provide isn't as a technical expert; it's as a business expert that understands customer problems well, and know how that translates to a technical solution.

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F

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