Types of Communication

Whether you are a budding product owner or an experienced product manager, communication skills are essential for successful collaboration with peers, cross-functional teams, and suppliers. As the demand to produce results quickly intensifies, so too does the need to develop effective ways of communicating with stakeholders across an organization. But what types of communication skills should you focus on in order to accomplish that?

In this blog post, we will discuss the key communication skill sets — active listening, persuasive speaking, assertive negotiation, collaboration and problem solving — that work together in harmony to lead your team successfully through any development project. By understanding the variety of communication methods at your disposal, you can lay the groundwork for gaining alignment across teams while also boosting customer engagement with your products.

---

Product owners are responsible for overseeing the development and launch of a product. They work to ensure that the product meets customer needs, achieves business goals, and solves problems. Product owners need to be able to communicate their vision for the product, ensure that the product meets customer needs and achieves business goals.

Here are some of the key communication skills that product owners need to have:

1. Interpersonal Skills: Product owners need to be able to work well with people from different backgrounds and disciplines. This includes being able to listen to others and understand their perspectives, negotiate and resolve conflicts, and build consensus between stakeholders.

2. Social Media Communication: As products become increasingly digital, product owners need to be able to communicate via social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. They need to be able to write effective posts, respond to customer inquiries, and leverage platforms to promote their product.

3. Written Communication: Product owners need to be able to write clearly and concisely. This includes being able to write project plans, product briefs, and other documents.

4. Verbal Communication: Product owners need to be able to present their product to stakeholders and customers in a clear and persuasive way. This includes being able to make compelling speeches, give presentations, and answer questions.

5. Visual Communication: Product owners also need to be able to use visuals to communicate their product effectively. This includes being able to create effective visuals such as infographics, photos, and videos.

---

Product managers have a wide range of responsibilities, from overseeing product development to creating and executing product strategies. As such, a successful product manager must possess a variety of communication skills in order to effectively manage the product lifecycle.

Here are some key communication skills for product managers:

1. Active Listening: Active listening is the ability to listen carefully to what another person is saying and to respond accordingly. Product managers must be able to listen to their team members and customers to understand their needs and concerns. This will help them create products that meet their customers’ needs and help their team work together more effectively.

2. Verbal Communication: Being able to effectively communicate verbally is essential for product managers. They must be able to explain complex concepts to their team and customers in an easy-to-understand manner. In addition, they must be able to give clear directions and feedback to their team that is both motivating and constructive.

3. Written Communication: Product managers must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in writing. This includes being able to write detailed product requirements documents, product descriptions, and technical documents. It also includes being able to write effective emails and create effective marketing materials.

4. Interpersonal Communication: Being able to build relationships and effectively collaborate with team members and customers is an essential communication skill for product managers. They must be able to build trust and work together to ensure the success of their product.

5. Negotiation Skills: Product managers must be able to negotiate with customers and vendors in order to get the best deals and terms possible. They must understand the different needs of the parties involved and be able to find a way to meet them.

---

Communication is key for every role, especially product owners and product managers. Though there are similarities in the types of communication skills needed, there are also differences based on the product owner’s or manager’s responsibilities.

Please comment and tell us which skill you think is the most important for product owners and product managers. Thanks for reading!