The role of a product manager has always been complex, balancing business goals, customer needs, and cross-functional collaboration. But as AI-driven tools take on more of the execution work—analyzing data, optimizing workflows, and even generating roadmaps—the future of product management is in flux. Technical skills alone won’t make you a great product leader. The future of product management belongs to those who can build relationships, influence without authority, and drive alignment across the organization.
In this edition of Productside Stories, we sat down with Ravi Ramsaran (Chief Product Officer at Nextria Inc), who has built and led teams across fintech, SaaS, and enterprise technology. He shared his perspective on what separates good product managers from great ones—and why soft skills are becoming the most critical asset in product leadership.
The Hidden Superpower of Great Product Leaders
Many product managers focus on mastering the hard skills—building roadmaps, refining backlogs, and tracking KPIs. But as Ravi pointed out, that’s just the baseline. The real challenge isn’t shipping features—it’s driving alignment and influencing outcomes.
Consider this: The best ideas don’t always win. It’s the product managers who can effectively communicate their vision, get buy-in from stakeholders, and inspire teams who drive real impact.
“Product managers don’t succeed because they have the best ideas. They succeed because they can get others excited about their ideas and bring them to life.”
So, what are the soft skills that set apart high-impact product leaders?
1. How to Influence Without Authority
One of the hardest parts of being a product manager? You don’t have direct authority over most of the teams you work with. Engineers, designers, sales, and marketing all have their own priorities, and they don’t report to you.
Ravi emphasized that the most effective PMs know how to build credibility and influence decisions without forcing them.
That means:
- Understanding what motivates each stakeholder and framing product decisions in a way that aligns with their goals.
- Listening actively and addressing concerns before they turn into roadblocks.
- Speaking the language of the business—translating product priorities into metrics that leadership cares about.
Key takeaway: Influence is about trust. The more your colleagues trust that you understand their challenges, the more likely they are to support your initiatives.
2. Communication is a Superpower
According to Ravi, clear communication is one of the biggest differentiators between average and exceptional PMs. Whether it’s framing a roadmap strategy for executives, writing product specs that engineers can actually use, or rallying a team around a vision, how you communicate directly impacts execution speed and alignment.
Best practices for strong communication:
- Be explicit. Don’t assume others see the full picture—break complex ideas into simple, digestible narratives.
- Over-communicate priorities. A good PM makes sure their team always knows what truly matters.
- Use storytelling. Data is important, but stories make ideas stick.
Key takeaway: The best PMs don’t just provide information—they create clarity. If people constantly ask for more details, that’s a sign your communication isn’t landing.
3. Relationship-Building is Your Secret Weapon
Product managers who build strong relationships win more battles, faster. Ravi highlighted that great PMs treat stakeholders—not just customers—as partners.
That means:
- Building trust with engineers so they see product as a partner, not just a request machine.
- Aligning with marketing and sales to ensure go-to-market strategies make sense.
- Creating bridges with leadership by proactively sharing insights and showing how product decisions drive business growth.
Ravi shared an example of how a strong relationship with a VP of Sales helped him fast-track a major product decision. Instead of waiting for endless debate, he had a direct line to leadership—and the trust needed to move forward quickly.
Key takeaway: Relationships don’t just make your job easier—they unlock opportunities that wouldn’t exist otherwise.
4. Emotional Intelligence Drives Product Success
If you’re leading a team—or influencing multiple teams—you need to be able to read the room.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) helps PMs:
- Navigate difficult conversations (especially when tensions run high).
- Understand stakeholder motivations to get better buy-in.
- Support team morale—because a burned-out team can’t build great products.
As Ravi put it: “A good PM gets things done. A great PM understands people—and helps them do their best work.”
Key takeaway: Mastering EQ helps you anticipate challenges before they happen—and resolve conflicts without unnecessary friction.
Is the Future of Product Management Human-Centered?
AI and automation are taking over more technical aspects of product management—analyzing customer data, optimizing roadmaps, even writing PRDs. But AI can’t replace the human side of product leadership.
The PMs who thrive in the future won’t just be great at strategy and execution. They’ll be exceptional at collaboration, communication, and influence.
Ravi’s final piece of advice?
“If you want to future-proof your career, invest in your soft skills. The best product leaders don’t just manage products. They lead people.”
Want to Build These Skills? Here’s Where to Start
Soft skills are the difference between a PM who ships features and a PM who drives real business impact.
- Download the Product Leader First 90 Days Template Pack to get frameworks for building relationships, influencing stakeholders, and setting a vision.
- Join our next webinar to hear how top PMs navigate real-world leadership challenges.
- Take our Optimal Product Management Course to master both the strategic and soft skills needed to lead high-performing product teams.
What’s been the biggest soft skills challenge in your PM career? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with us on LinkedIn.
