Many product managers feel pressure to be the visionary—the one with all the answers, all the ideas, all the breakthroughs. But this expectation can be a trap. When product leaders focus on generating ideas rather than understanding the real problems, they risk building fast—but not right. 

At Kenway, we often meet talented product managers navigating this very tension: the desire to innovate versus the need to deeply listen. The shift from creator to connector may seem counterintuitive, but it’s often the difference between a good product and a great one. 

The Shift: From Ideas to Insight 

Great product managers don’t succeed by being idea machines. They succeed by being problem experts—by understanding user pain points so well that solutions naturally emerge from the team around them. 

“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.” — Albert Einstein 

Few professionals can afford to follow Einstein’s ratio literally. But the principle holds: time spent understanding the problem multiplies the quality of the solution. 

A prime example is the Life360 integration with Tile, where the team sought to enhance the SOS feature across devices. Instead of assuming they knew exactly what users wanted, they surveyed their audience. Questions like “How would you use an SOS button?” revealed the need for discreet, family-focused functionality—an insight no existing feature had fully addressed. This empathy-driven approach led to an SOS capability that resonated profoundly with families, demonstrating that understanding user pain points is often the key to building genuinely impactful products. 

At Kenway, we guide clients through this type of discovery process. We offer structured ways to surface unmet needs—balancing data with emotional intelligence, curiosity with discipline. 

The Role: From Custodian to Collaborator 

Another pitfall we see: product managers feeling they must “own” the solution. But the strongest ideas come not from one brain, but from many voices. 

Great product managers: 

• Invite engineers, designers, legal, analysts, and others into the ideation process. 

• Celebrate contributions publicly, building trust and team momentum. 

• Recognize that innovation often emerges from the intersection of disciplines, not in a silo. 

We’ve seen time and again that collaboration isn’t about relinquishing control—it’s about extending influence. When everyone has a stake, teams move faster, align better, and deliver more thoughtfully. 

The Practice: Don’t Conjure—Collect 

Innovation is rarely about epiphany. It’s about synthesis. 

The best product leaders don’t conjure ideas—they collect them. They pull from: 

• Direct user research and usability testing 

• Behavioral analytics and voice-of-customer data 

• Cross-functional brainstorming and industry benchmarking 

• Strategic frameworks like Opportunity Solution Trees (Teresa Torres) 

• Reframing tools like Adam Grant’s Think Again, which encourage teams to question early assumptions 

This disciplined curiosity is a hallmark of mature product leadership. It creates space for better thinking, and ultimately, better decisions. 

The Outcome: Products—and Teams—that Endure 

Collaboration isn’t just a better way to work—it’s a better way to win. When product managers foster shared ownership: 

• Teams internalize the vision, becoming advocates beyond their immediate role 

• Feedback loops shorten, risk is surfaced earlier, and decisions improve 

• The organization builds muscle for future initiatives—not just this one 

The downstream effect? Greater user satisfaction, higher adoption, and stronger business outcomes. 

Ready to lead through clarity, not chaos? 

We know the job of a product manager is demanding. You’re balancing user needs, business strategy, technical constraints, and organizational dynamics—all while trying to keep teams aligned and motivated. 

If you’re navigating a product challenge—or building a product practice—let’s talk. 
Reach out to Kenway for a conversation on how we can help you unlock insight, alignment, and momentum.