September 01 has always been聽auspicious for me in its ability to inspire and to motivate. It appeals to my personal aesthetic with the cozy sweaters, the pumpkin-spiced everything and all those apple-picking insta-ops. But it鈥檚 really the back-to-school earnestness that gets me. Every time.聽I plan a new fitness regimen, sign-up to learn a new skill (I鈥檒l be a coder! A saucier! A roller-derby girl!)聽and giddily charge towards my new goals. This annual reset keeps me moving forward and in-line with personal core values.

It鈥檚 a challenge to stay connected to the Why, especially when you鈥檙e part of a team of strong people who boast their own talents, goals and ideas. One of the most important things an awesome Product Manager can do to cultivate success for her team: be the compass. Maintaining the narrative is what maintains loyalty to the end-game and, ultimately, inspires buy-in from consumers. We鈥檙e all just a bunch of three-year olds following along, holding the rope, trusting that someone knows where we鈥檙e going and why.

鈥淟eadership is based on a spiritual quality; the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.鈥� 鈥� Vince Lombardi

The rest of us indulge in our what-ifs,聽what-thens and what-nows while the PM guides and cajoles us back to the path. They keep us on task, on budget and on time. They offer navigational support when feature lists heave and deadlines push and markets change. Detours and scenic routes are fine, as long as you keep in mind the why,聽the purpose,聽the destination.聽At the end of the day, the product vision and business objectives should guide the way.

Today may be the day I set my direction for the year, but a really great PM does that every day.