Do product managers need to code?

The product manager role is complex, but we can sum it up in a relatively simple sentence:

Product managers guide the teams handling the development of products or features throughout their life cycles.

Product managers rely on many different skills and requirements—from being able to interpret customer needs and wishes to managing a diverse group of professionals, timelines, and budgets.

But that’s not an exhaustive list. Knowing how to code is a valuable asset in tech fields. Product managers with coding experience can better mediate between groups, set realistic expectations, and understand how the project is progressing.

If you’re asking yourself, “Do product managers need to code?” the answer is yes! As a product manager, it simplifies your job and often leads to a higher salary. For department heads and those on the leadership team, having product managers with technical skills enables your project teams to do more and do it faster while generating less technical debt.

A broader way of looking at this question is to ask if product managers need to be technically skilled and understand the details of what they manage.

Product managers primarily work as liaisons and manage relationships between different parties, so they often prioritize their soft skills. Think conflict resolution, people management, and project management strategies. These are critical skills you need as a successful product manager—even if you have a technical background.

With sufficient technical support in your project teams, you may be able to rely on their knowledge and skills to efficiently evaluate progress. But there’s no substitute for your own coding knowledge.

Product managers, unlike project managers, must be fully versed in the products they oversee. This means all product managers should bring their own technical skills to the table to truly lead product and feature development projects. These skills include the following:

• A technical understanding of user experience in the tech industry

• Data analytics

• Understanding product strategy and being able to make informed decisions

• Coding (for frontend, backend, and/or data)

Taking the time to develop your coding skills may be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your career.

If you’re a product manager without a solid foundation of coding knowledge, you’re flying blind. You won’t be able to:

• Understand a product or feature’s foundational elements

• Know what work is required to make changes or upgrades

• Gauge the severity of challenges and sudden code problems

• Create the most accurate timeline forecast

• Know when the project is getting off track

• Understand the amount of technical debt your new project is generating or how to effectively reduce it

That lack of insight significantly hurts your ability to effectively communicate, lead, and manage.

But we don’t want to focus on the negatives. Instead, let’s consider the clear advantages of being able to code.

Coding gives you better vision

Having your own coding knowledge doesn’t mean you can just “do the work yourself.” It means you can glance through progress, understand what people on different teams are talking about, and be able to review work and evaluate it.

Being able to follow along grants you much more understanding and less frustration. You won’t be depending on a guide or your coders’ ability to explain things in layman’s terms.

Coding knowledge helps you understand what you’re asking for

An xkcd comic about coding limitations has circulated on the internet. Chances are that all the coders on your team are familiar with it. Ultimately, it underscores that people without technical coding knowledge can’t identify the ease or difficulty of certain tasks.

Not having sufficient technical knowledge to distinguish between easy and impossible tasks is a liability for product managers. You might over-promise to customers, leading to low satisfaction and churn. Or you might not give coding teams enough time or resources to do their jobs efficiently, leading to stress, burnout, and turnover.

Part of your role as a product manager is to accurately gauge which developments are possible and how to best deliver them. Foundational knowledge of coding helps you determine the following:

• Project hours

• Team size

• Milestones

• Budget

Coding for product managers protects your career

Professionals in the tech space may feel like their careers are in a precarious position, and for good reason. The ripple effects of artificial intelligence (AI) are more like tsunamis, and it’s impossible to predict which jobs will remain in human hands in five years. Of those that remain, who knows what they will look like?

Savvy professionals already know one strategy for growing and protecting their careers: doubling down on soft skills. When you can manage well, produce results, retain customers, and resolve conflicts, you will find more opportunities. Growing your professional network is also invaluable, whether you’re currently considering new possibilities or want to have options to hand.

A solid blend of technical and soft skills will allow you to always:

• Explain business needs and objectives in technical terms

• Explain technical limitations and capabilities in terms directors and leadership teams need

• Act as the coordinator or mediator between different in-house and external teams while fully understanding the perspectives of both sides

There are multiple languages to learn. It doesn’t matter whether you are learning how to code for the first time, you want to develop rudimentary skills, or you want to stay just as technically sharp as the development team.

Prioritize the following languages based on your current skill level and the skills that are most valuable for your current position.

1. Python: a versatile and user-friendly language

Python is a simple and rewarding choice, especially if you’re new to coding. It’s very readable, there are plenty of resources, and you can use it for automation projects, backend projects, and data analysis. It’s even valuable in AI projects.

With some diligent study, you can quickly pick up on the Python fundamentals and be ready to coordinate more closely with developers.

2. JavaScript: the language of the web

If your organization focuses on online apps, user interfaces, and web-based capabilities, JavaScript can provide more return on investment (ROI). This language is what most of the internet runs on, and understanding its conventions will allow you to better manage every phase of a product’s life cycle.

3. SQL: the language of data

We live in the era of data-driven decisions. Product managers who want to cement their positions and/or grow their careers need to be able to handle large volumes of data intelligently. They don’t want to have to rely on other coworkers or engineering teams.

Through Structured Query Language (SQL), you can use databases, manipulate data, and generate in-depth reports independently. This makes you the source of knowledge for in-depth insights. You can constantly tweak your reports, dive into the data, and uncover the most impactful ways to manage your products.

The drawback is that SQL can be challenging for new learners. Start by learning how to make sense of the data and data reports so you can better communicate with data analysts. Then, move on to working independently in SQL.

4. Java: a time-tested language for enterprise applications

Java is used everywhere, from major operating systems to native mobile apps and games. Having a basic understanding of Java is valuable.

Despite their similar names, Java and JavaScript are very different. Java is an object-oriented programming language that can run on virtual machines and browsers, while JavaScript is a scripting language that only works on browsers.

If you’re not sure which one is the right fit for your career development, ask your coding coworkers the following:

1. Which language they use the most

2. Which language leads to the most friction and communication breakdowns between teams

5. Swift: the go-to language for iOS development

You may have heard of Java, Python, JavaScript, and SQL before, but Swift is less well-known.

Swift is the cornerstone of Apple’s products. So, if your organization makes apps or you would like to work at app-centric tech companies, this language should be on your priority list. However, if that’s not the case, learning this language is more of a bonus than a necessity.

There are dozens of resources available online to help you learn how to code. Coding schools provide a structured approach and project-based learning, while casual learners can download apps and practice languages in their free time.

If you want to make coding a priority, discuss it with your learning and development team and see if there are available resources with certifications. Some organizations prefer their coders and technical experts to have verified credentials rather than just experience, so companies may be willing to invest in your learning.