At the end of the first online course at CFG Gender Hacksong in 2021, women fans rounded out the workplace questions that nearly a hundred students most wanted to know, hoping to get answers from Kevin and Sharleene, Google's product managers.

In the first online course of 2021 CFG 5/16, two Google product managers, Kevin and Sharlene, shared a wonderful exchange, and the response was overwhelming.

At the end of the speaker's sharing, it will enter the Panel time where the participants ask questions and the speaker demystimates. Participants on the other side of the lens use online tools to write down and send their questions, and if you're interested in a question, they can even vote for one.

One question jumped out of the screen, see the students participate in the enthusiasm, those thinking and reflective questions are also very deep, can be seen in this online activity class solid lecture content, to bring the students a variety of inspiration.

Today's host, Wushi Media Product Manager Guo Fuzhi Merci, sorted out the top questions to replace the students and ask questions they hoped to get answers from Kevin and Sharleene.


Today's Host: Wushi Media Product Manager Guo Fuzhi Merci. Photo | Guo Fuzhi

Practical cases and how to resolve the biggest difficulties encountered when communicating across departments or managing up?

The question was taken by Sharleene: "Communication with different departments should be communicated in each other's language, from the same point of view, to their warm words." As for up-communication, she replies:

"Everyone is on the same boat, not so much managing upward, it's better to think about your boss's needs and concerns, communicate in each other's language, and have your boss help you get the best out of your product." - Sharleen Yuan, product manager for Google Android Accessibility

Kevin, on the other hand, shared his steps: "There are two rules for communicating, the first of which is to ask myself why first." For example, why there is a communication problem. The second is to communicate frankly and speak frankly about the problem. He shares the words to remember to communicate when he's telling a question about what he's doing because:

When communicating, you should first help the other person answer: Why do you want to do the project is important? Why does he spend time helping you?

Kevin Fu, product manager for Google Pixel Cameras

Make it clear that you share a common goal with him. In addition, Kevin offers a point of view that breaks the students' glasses:

"The people who criticize you the most at work are usually the people who care most about you and the products, so it's important to understand what they think, which is important for cross-departmental communication." Kevin Fu, Google Pixel Camera Product Manager

How do I find a balance between life and work?

"It's a tough challenge, everyone has it, you're not alone!" he said first. But Kevin's own solution is the same as being a product manager:

  1. What is the biggest reason to find an imbalance: enough sleep, for example.
  2. Ask why: There are too many things you want to do.
  3. To solve: Prioritize things.

"How to maintain a balance between life and work?" Protect your time, think about what your life looks like, and do what you're doing to help you along the way? Kevin Fu, Google Pixel Camera Product Manager

Kevin's gentle and powerful voice reached each student's ear: "Think back and see if you're moving forward, but you've done a great job anyway!"

After warm encouragement, Sharleen took over, and in her last lecture she offered her views on "life-work balance", which she stressed again: "Circle time to work, circle time to rest."

Work is important, but also to allocate energy to develop other activities, explore, know themselves, do not let life only work.

Google Android Accessibility Product Manager Sharleene Yuan

How do you respond to an emotional colleague or boss?

Sharlene immediately offered a practical advice: Avoid any communication on the spire of high emotions. It's easy to argue with each other in an emotional situation, and that's not a good way to solve the problem, so it's recommended to wait until you're calm before you come back to communicate.

Kevin, on the other hand, re-enacts the "product manager" role, and he asks first: Why is the other person emotional? What's behind it?

"The more emotional you are, the more stable you are, and in the role of listener, rationally help him analyze: Why does he feel that way?" What can I do to solve his problem? Kevin Fu, Google Pixel Camera Product Manager

There's an English proverb, "Put yourself in each other's shoes" (Put yourself in someone's shoes.), and we don't stand with each other from the point of view of confrontation, but stand together to make the interaction positive and helpful.

Host Merci also shared years of experience working with women fans, sharing THE thinking:

  • I: I see this situation/behavior/emotional response
  • I: I think there's something I can do
  • U: What do you think?

Start with these three sentences and examine the event, and don't shy away but take on the other person's emotions, let him know you've received it, and then move on to the next step.

If you meet a colleague who is not communicating well, try to help advance the conversation by "doing the right thing" and discussing the other person's behavior rather than evaluation.

Wusi Media Product Manager Guo Fuzhi Merci

Three answers, three solutions, I believe that so that many students have been troubled by the problem, can be encountered again, with colleagues excited not to abandon, but smooth communication and brilliant sparks of inspiration.

More exciting courses are coming online!

After each speaker and host answers a question, the discussion area is always full of clapping signs, and the participants carefully write down the notes on top of them and share them with other participants. With nearly a hundred people in the video room, the level of enthusiasm in the response to the message was eye-popping, but it was also full of participation.

This time, two experienced Google product managers, Kevin and Sharlene, are preparing CFG students for a great course full of dry goods. The happy hours of learning together are always over - but it's not the end, it's just the first lesson, it's just the beginning.

CFG Lesson 1 series of three articles, can not fully reflect the class speaker style, also can not answer one by one you most want to know the question - we are waiting for your personal participation!

If you're fully involved in 5 events, you'll get a certificate of completion, and you'll be able to connect with your Google Champion insiders on specific topics, connect with Google, build a diverse and integrated worldview for yourself, and prepare for your ideal future.

(First:CFG Lesson 1: How does Womany x Google be a product manager?) Influence is not just a product, the team's diverse voices are heard!

(Part 2:CFG Lesson 1: How does Womany x Google be a product manager?) It's more important to see the whole picture than to jump down and solve the problem!