Stop calling product managers “CEOs of the product”

The metaphor of a product manager as the "CEO of the product" is critiqued for creating unrealistic expectations and dysfunction within organizations, often leading to burnout. Unlike CEOs, product managers lack formal authority to make significant decisions, which results in them being held accountable for outcomes they cannot control. This metaphor emerged to elevate the status of product managers, but it has since become detrimental by turning them into escalation sponges for organizational issues. Instead, the article proposes a new metaphor: the "chief context officer," emphasizing collaboration, contextual understanding, and shared accountability. This approach allows teams to make informed decisions without placing unrealistic burdens on product managers, fostering a healthier work environment and reducing burnout.