Who This Helps
This is for Product Managers who have a list of ideas but no clear way to choose the next one. It’s part of the Product Portfolio Strategy program, which helps you run a portfolio that makes sense.
Mini Case
Your team has 5 potential experiments. You debate them for 3 weeks. You finally pick one, but after 2 months of work, the results are flat. Sound familiar? A simple portfolio map turns that 3-week debate into a 2-hour decision, saving you time and focusing effort on what truly moves the needle.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Grab a whiteboard or a blank document. Title it 'Portfolio Map'.
- List every active project and new idea. Don't filter yet. Just get it all out.
- For each item, put a rough size label: Small (1-2 weeks), Medium (1 month), or Large (1+ quarters).
- Next to the size, jot your confidence level: High, Medium, or Low. Be brutally honest.
- Step back. Circle the 1-2 Medium/High confidence bets. That's your focus. The rest go on a 'Later' list.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't let the loudest voice win the debate. Let the map do the talking.
- Avoid sizing everything as 'Medium'. Force yourself to call a spade a spade—some bets are small, some are huge.
- Don't skip the confidence rating. A large bet with low confidence is a red flag, not a priority.
- Resist the urge to work on more than two core bets at once. Focus is your superpower.
- Never present a list without rough sizing. It leaves the door open for endless scope creep.
Your Win by Friday
By this Friday, you will have a one-page portfolio artifact. You'll know your top two experiments, why they're the best bets, and what you're deliberately not doing. You'll walk into your next planning meeting with clarity, not confusion. Your stakeholders will thank you. Your team will have a clear target. And you? You'll have traded chaos for a calm, confident plan. That's a pretty good way to end the week.