Ready to build your first PM productivity agent? Hold that thought.

Here's what every PM needs to know first

Imagine this…

You've just set up your first agent to auto-populate Jira tickets.

You hit "run" with excitement, expecting it to finally free you from those tedious PM tasks. But instead of a streamlined workflow, you get half-baked responses, inconsistent results, and—worst of all—a new pile of tickets that overwrites the old ones. Yikes!

For any PM, the idea of using agents to automate repetitive tasks is thrilling.

But diving in without the right fundamentals is like trying to run before you can walk; you’ll stumble before making any real progress.

So, how do you get ready for the agent revolution?

• Master the 10 essential LLM skills (every PM should know them)

• Start small and iterate

• Be aware of real risks

Let's get cooking.

The 10 essential AI skills every PM must master before using agents.

1. Think AI-first: Approach every task with an AI mindset. Make it part of your standard workflow.

2. Understand how LLMs work: Familiarity with the basics of LLMs will help you set realistic expectations and avoid disappointing outcomes.

3. Choose the right LLM for the job: Not all LLMs are created equal. Matching the right model to each task ensures better, more relevant responses.

4. Write prompts that work: Effective prompts make all the difference. Mastering this skill will help you get consistent, high-quality responses every time.

5. Break down complex tasks into micro-tasks: AI excels at handling simpler tasks. Breaking larger projects into smaller, targeted pieces yields better results.

6. Understand Human-AI synergy: Knowing when and how to work with AI helps maintain quality and reliability—and keeps you in control of the outcomes.

7. Evaluate responses: Know what to look for in AI outputs. Establishing quality standards ensures each response aligns with your expectations.

8. Measure your results: Track metrics like time saved, reduced rework, and improved speed. Data like this showcases AI's value to stakeholders.

9. Experiment and iterate: Consistently test and refine your approaches. Regular iteration produces more robust, effective solutions.

10. Consider ethics and risks: AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about responsible use. Know how to protect data and the organization’s IP.

Why skipping the foundations is a recipe for failure.

Mastering these foundational skills isn't just best practice—it's essential for success.

Without them, you risk:

1. Inconsistent and unreliable outputs: Strong foundational skills are the key to producing consistent, high-quality results. Without them, your agents can become unpredictable and potentially harmful.

2. Time waste and team frustration: Jumping in without the basics often leads to errors that require extensive cleanup, defeating the purpose of using agents to automate.

3. Missed opportunities: True automation value comes from addressing high-frequency tedious tasks. Without a better understanding, you might focus on automating the wrong tasks, missing opportunities for significant improvements.

4. Expectation misalignment: A solid foundation helps set realistic expectations. Without it, you risk promising more than your agents can deliver, leading to disappointment and lost credibility.

5. Steep learning curves: Starting without proper preparation makes the learning process unnecessarily difficult. Building skills systematically reduces friction and accelerates success.

Your path to successful automation: Start with small wins.

Before diving into complex automation with agents, PMs should focus on achievable, low-risk tasks that build your confidence and skills:

1. Master the Core Skills First: Develop the essential skills above to set yourself up for effective, reliable automation.

2. Build a Personal Prompt Library: Create a library of effective prompts for specific tasks. This saves time and ensures consistent results as you expand your automation efforts.

3. Identify High-Impact, Repetitive Tasks: Start with tasks that are repetitive, time-consuming, and essential. These early wins will give you immediate productivity gains.

4. Use Agents to Automate Small Tasks and Experiment: Begin automating selected tasks with agents (e.g. Casidy, n8n), refining your approach as you go. Learn from each attempt to improve efficiency and quality.

5. Measure Hard and Soft Benefits: Track metrics like time saved but also note softer benefits, like reduced mental load. Recognizing these can motivate further automation.

6. Share Your Success: As you grow more comfortable, take on more tasks and share your wins with your CPO and team. This visibility can help accelerate your career (bonus points!).

AI is changing the PM role.

But diving into agents before you’ve mastered the basic LLM skills is a recipe for disaster.

Instead, master the fundamentals, and you’ll unlock the true potential of agents to help you supercharge productivity, increase your effectiveness, and accelerate your career.

Happy building!!

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Whenever you are ready, here are 2 ways that I can help you:

#1. AI Empowered PMs (public bootcamp): An intense 3-week bootcamp, where PMs learn how to leverage AI to boost productivity, increase effectiveness, and advance their careers.

#2. Build Efficient & Effective Product Teams With AI (private workshops): Leverage the power of AI to deliver a bigger impact, accelerate product development, and boost innovation. Includes a mix of consulting, training, and AI lab.