How to Be a Top 1% PM: 9 Key Traits That Set You Apart

What makes the top 1% of PMs different? It's not just skills — it's how they show up. This article details 9 traits I've observed in every star PM, and how you can start building the necessary skills

What Separates the Top 1% of Product Managers from the Rest?

Becoming an effective PM doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time. The question is, what do you do with that time? That’s what we’ll dive into today.

Having coached and led several product managers throughout my career, I can spot an excellent PM in a crowd. They’re not hard to pick out if you’ve spent time sharpening your own PM muscle. You’ll find they have grit, a bit unconventional, and are rough around the edges, constantly driven by the urge to “just do!”

Now, I’d like to discuss 9 top traits which I have observed in star PMs, and that you can start embodying as well. While the top 10% of PMs excel at a few key areas, the top 1% master most or all of them. Here’s what sets them apart:

1. They Think Big (Really Big).

The 1% PM rarely let today’s constraints—whether it’s resources, market conditions, or team size—limit their vision and their execution. Some see disruptive opportunities whereas others see roadblocks and craft concrete plans to turn those opportunities into reality. This means they are not “should we” people, they are “can we” personas.

Ask yourself: Are you thinking about what’s possible in 5 years, or just what’s feasible next quarter?

2. They Communicate with Precision.

If you know anything about product management, then you’ll acknowledge the power of storytelling. Being excellent at creating and driving narratives is such a critical skill to have. It informs how you influence stakeholders, galvanize teams, appreciate hard workers, and give feedback to people. Your ability to tell a compelling story in everything you do is non-negotiable. You must know how to make a case that’s impossible to ignore, tapping into logic, emotion, and stakeholder biases to secure resources, headcount, or buy-in.

Pro tip: It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about framing the narrative.

3. They Simplify Ruthlessly.

Why spend 100% of the effort to get 100% of the value when you can get 80% of the value with 20% of the effort? The 1% PM knows how to strip away the fluff and focus on what truly matters, delivering results faster and compounding their impact over time.

Think about it: What’s the simplest version of this feature that still delivers value?

4. They Prioritize and Sequence with Mastery.

Make no mistake, prioritization is just one part of the puzzle. The ability to sequence effectively is the balancing act required. Yes, you can prioritize but can you balance quick wins with long-term investments, offense (growth) with defense (operations, bug fixes, and technical debt)?

Key insight: Not all projects are created equal. The best PMs know which moves to make now and which to save for later.

5. They Forecast and Measure Relentlessly.

This can be likened to product sense. My opinion of how product sense is built is the act of constant immersion. How often do you think about your craft and see through that lens?

At some point in my career, I began paying closer attention to the user experience on every app I interacted with- what could be better, what I would remove. Then I’d leave reviews on the App Store for the product team, and for a while, there was no response. However, one day, I got feedback on one of my reviews. That was all the validation I needed. I doubled down.

What I am saying is that the 1% of PM can usually predict the impact of a project with surprising accuracy, using experience and benchmarks. But they don’t stop there—they measure results post-launch and use those insights to refine future decisions.

Challenge: Can you estimate the ROI of your next project without asking the engineering team for input?

6. They Execute Like Their Life Depends on It.

When it’s time to ship, the 1% PM does whatever it takes. They recruit, they escalate, they negotiate, and they even dive into the weeds to get the job done. No task is beneath them if it means delivering results.

Truth bomb: Execution isn’t glamorous, but it’s where great PMs separate themselves from the pack.

7. They Understand Technical Trade-Offs.

You don’t need a computer science degree to be a 1% PM, but you do need to understand the technical complexity of your decisions. They partner with engineers to make smart trade-offs, balancing speed, quality, and impact.

Food for thought: Can you explain the technical trade-offs of your next feature without asking an engineer first?

8. They Have an Eye for Great Design.

The 1% PM may not be a designer, but they know great design when they see it. They can articulate what makes a design exceptional and push their team to go from “good enough” to “wow.”

Question: Can you spot the difference between good design and great design—and explain why it matters?

9. They Write Copy That Converts.

Every word matters. The 1% PM knows how to craft concise, compelling copy that drives action. They obsess over button labels, calls-to-action, and navigation text because they understand the power of the right words.

Try this: Cut your next piece of copy in half. Does it still get the job done?

In Summary

The truth is, 1% PMs are rare—so rare that you might never meet one. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to. Instead of searching for the unicorn, focus on hiring or becoming a 10% PM who is committed to growing in these areas.

Ask yourself: Which of these skills do you already excel at, and which ones do you need to level up?

I can tell you confidently, the journey from good to great is less about perfection—it’s about progress. The best PMs are the ones who never stop learning, growing, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.