Essential Tools for Every Product Manager's Arsenal

As product managers, we juggle time, business priorities, design, and development while making sure everything from communication to tracking stays on point. Over the years, I’ve found myself relying on a core set of tools that make the chaos a little more manageable. Here’s a look at the essentials I swear by, and how they support the daily grind of product management.

1. Excel & Google Sheets: The Backbone of Product Management

Whether it’s for decision-making, documentation, or backlog management, Excel and Google Sheets are must-haves. Their flexibility makes them ideal for everything from simple data tracking to complex formulas.

2. Figma, Miro, Excalidraw & Lucidchart: For Visual Thinking

Visual tools are your best friend when you need to turn complex ideas into something clear and collaborative.

• Figma is perfect for real-time design collaboration with UI/UX teams.
• Miro and Lucidchart help map out user flows and database schemas effortlessly.
• For quick brainstorming or informal diagrams, I love Excalidraw. Its hand-drawn style and ease of use make it feel like you're working on a virtual whiteboard with your team.

3. ChatGPT: Your AI-Powered Sidekick

Need help double-checking an SQL query? What is the tone of a Slack message? Enter ChatGPT. I use it to refine communications, set the tone of any feedback, summarize lengthy docs, and develop content ideas. It's like having a thoughtful teammate available 24/7.

4. Cursor: Speed Up Grooming

If you want to understand how a process works (its flow, dependencies, and business rules), Cursor is a great resource. It allows you to get the insights you need without constantly pinging the engineering team. In many cases, it even shortens grooming meetings and boosts clarity.

5. JIRA: Mastering Sprints and Structure

Love it or tolerate it, JIRA is the backbone of many Scrum teams. From story tracking to sprint planning, it’s packed with features. The interface may feel overwhelming at first, but the automation capabilities are game-changers for keeping everything up to date and flowing smoothly.

6. Zoom & Slack: Stay Connected

Remote work isn’t going anywhere, so strong communication tools are non-negotiable.

• Zoom handles face-to-face time brilliantly, whether it's for daily standups or deep-dive discussions.
• Slack keeps everything organized with channels, threads, and helpful tools like the “save for later” feature for personal task tracking. If you’re struggling with follow-ups, “save for later” is the apple of my eye.

7. Outlook & Google Workspace: Time is Your Real MVP

If you’re not managing your time, your time will manage you. Whether you use Outlook or Google Calendar, blocking time for focused work can make a massive difference. Your calendar is your command center for meetings, deep work, and follow-ups.

Every product manager has their own preferences, but finding tools that fit naturally into your rhythm is the key. From structuring your day to collaborating with your team, these tools help bring order to the organized chaos that is product management.