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In my current role, there was a time when operation and engineering team was not aligned which was causing lots of delays during deployment. as per operation team build should be deployed in same branch which was available on pre-prod but as we were running multiple projects/features parallelly. it was difficult to develop and test everything in one branch and made it ready for deployment in a short time.

I had to work with my team (engineering team) and operational team to come up with a solution where we both are aligned and can reduce delivery time as well.

Initially i had proposed a solution when we were developing and testing work on feature branch and once its fully tested by QA on feature branch we push all changes to staging branch where we can do final testing. for some time this approach worked but we start facing new issue which is related to code merge as after merge features were impacting each other and require additional time to fix those issues and make it ready within planned time.

We added one more process if features/fixes are small and won't impact much then we merge else we try to plan deployment sequentially to avoid any further delay. 

This approach helped team to deliver project/feature on time and operational team was happy as they don't need to keep track of multiple branches during deployment.

I was working with 5 customers at once, and had to focus on those activities where I could make a difference, make the most impact, that I could not delegate, and where I could balance with other priorities - in order to do that, I measured the priority of the tasks by the cost of delay, in other words, the impact of not doing them at that time. Then, with more clarity about the priorities, I thought which ones I could delegate to other team members, and if that made sense, with the required support and guidance from my side. Working as a team and not trying to get everything done yourself is key in the long term with multiple, competing priorities. Then, organizing my time well in short, focused timeslots for the most important tasks, made a difference.

I led a project to implement a new feature in our loan processing system aimed at reducing API latency for faster loan approvals. Midway, I encountered data inconsistencies and latency issues caused by schema mismatches between the new API and our backend services. To resolve this, I optimized the data schema mapping, streamlined query performance, and introduced Redis caching for frequently accessed data, which significantly reduced the API call frequency and improved response times.

I also collaborated with QA to parallelize testing, allowing us to catch issues early. By continuously optimizing our microservices with adjustments to load balancing and asynchronous data processing, we increased processing speeds by 20%. While the deadline was slightly extended, our enhancements directly improved loan approval times and were a solid technical win for both the team and the user experience.

A good product manager must be

Customer centric - A good PM will always keep their customers at the heart of every decision. It is essential that the product team is working on features as per real user needs. In order to do this, PM should be able to be able to work through customer feedback, reviews, analyze these data to understand their true pain point and prioritize the right features for delivery.

Clear communicator - Clear communication is of utmost importance for this role. It is essential that a PM is bale to articulate a complex problem in a simple manner. A PM deals with various stakeholders and needs to be able to communicate in a clear manner to be able to align all the teams towards a common goal. 

Strategic thinker - A good PM should be able to think several steps ahead, planning actions strategically aligning with the business goals. This includes planning a clear roadmap, anticipating risks, and making decisions that balances short term and long term success.

Good problem solver - Problem solving is very central to a PM. There is problem solving in every aspect of the job. A PM should be able to break down a complex issue into smaller manageable problems and employ effective approaches to address them. A PM should also be very resilient under pressure and work in ambiguous situations.

Earning the trust of a team is essential for effective collaboration and success. I approach this by:

1. Being Transparent: I prioritize open communication and honesty. For instance, during a project update meeting, I openly shared the challenges we were facing, which helped build trust among team members as they felt informed and included in the process.

2. Listening Actively: I make a conscious effort to listen to my team members’ ideas and concerns. When a colleague proposed a new strategy, I encouraged discussion and incorporated their feedback into our plans, demonstrating that I value their input.

3. Following Through on Commitments: I ensure that I meet deadlines and deliver on my promises. For example, when I noticed our team was at risk of missing a deadline on a key project, I took the initiative to reorganize our workflow, delegate tasks more effectively, and set up short check-in meetings. This allowed us to complete the project on time, reinforcing my reliability to the team.

4. Showing Empathy: I take the time to understand the individual needs and motivations of my team members. By being supportive during high-pressure times and recognizing their personal challenges, I create a safe space for open communication.

5. Encouraging Collaboration: I foster a team-oriented culture by celebrating collective achievements. After we completed a project successfully, I organized a small team celebration to recognize everyone’s contributions and strengthen our bond.

6. Being Approachable: I maintain an open-door policy, inviting team members to share their thoughts or concerns. This accessibility helps establish a friendly atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable engaging with me.

By implementing these strategies and sharing specific examples, I build a foundation of trust that strengthens team dynamics and enhances overall performance."