A whimsical illustration of a person with a "cloud of ideas" above their head. The cloud contains icons representing tools like a mind map, sticky notes, and writing tools. This would tie in with the idea of switching modalities and sparking creativity.

Overcoming Creative Blocks As A Product Manager

You are a creator, even if you don’t think of yourself as one

That means you have creative blocks.

As a product manager, you face creative challenges every day – whether it’s crafting a compelling roadmap, solving a tricky customer problem, or aligning your team behind a vision. But what happens when the ideas won’t come?

In this newsletter issue I share a bunch of the tools and techniques that have helped me (and can help you) push through creative blocks and get things moving again.

Creativity is hard

Let’s just get that out of the way first.

Whether you’re trying to write, brainstorm a product idea, or come up with the next big thing for your team, there will be times when your brain feels like it’s running on fumes.

The good news? You’re not alone.

And even better news? There are tools and techniques that can help.

I’ve been creating for years – books, LinkedIn posts, podcasts, newsletters – and while I wouldn’t claim to have solved the puzzle of creativity (spoiler: no one has), I’ve found some approaches that help me push through the tough spots.

Whether you’re a product manager trying to pitch an idea, a writer battling the blank page, or someone staring at a problem that refuses to budge, these tips might just help you get moving.

Creativity is about action, not perfection

The first step to overcoming a creative block is to stop waiting for inspiration. Much as we’d like to, we can’t depend on inspiration to get us going. You must just start doing.

  • Write something, anything.
  • Open the document.
  • Jot down messy ideas on a piece of paper or a sticky note.

One key insight  – don’t to aim for brilliance on the first try. Lower your expectations. (Lower!) The goal isn’t to create something amazing right out of the gate – it’s to do something. Creativity thrives on momentum, not magic. You can fix things later. Words come first, then editing.

Use tools to make it easier

If writing or creating feels impossible, there are tools that can make the process just a bit smoother:

  • Hemingway Editor (or Grammarly): I use the Hemingway Editor to simplify my writing and making it more readable. It highlights what’s too complex and helps me focus on clarity.
  • Read it out loud: This one sounds basic, but trust me – it’s powerful. When you hear your words, clunky phrases and awkward ideas stand out immediately. I use this for every podcast script I write – it’s the only way I catch what’s not working.
  • 750words.com: I talked about this in the last newsletter (link to blog post here). If you need motivation to start a daily habit, this tool is brilliant. It tracks your streaks, word counts, and even quirky stats about your writing. It’s not an exaggeration to say 90% of The Secret Product Manager Handbook started in my morning pages, often on 750words.com. Almost all my LinkedIn posts began there too.

Switch it up: Use multiple modalities

Almost all my content is words. But I’ve found that when the words aren’t coming, try another approach. Changing modalities can unlock fresh perspectives when you’re stuck. Some options:

  • Record your thoughts as voice memos.
  • Create a mindmap to visualize connections.
  • Sketch your ideas. (This works for me, with my extremely limited drawing skills, so it might work even better for you if you can draw.)
  • Create a bunch of post-it notes with ideas and put them up on a whiteboard.
  • Make a PowerPoint deck with a few of your key ideas as prompts – and then present it out loud as if you’re presenting to an audience.
  • Outline your ideas in a bulleted list.

Successful creators often mix and match these tools. My podcasts, for example, often start as raw ideas in morning pages before I flesh them out into scripts – and sometimes I storyboard them for clarity. And I always read them out loud to help me find problems before I record.

Try time-boxing

When the creative block feels overwhelming, time-boxing can help. Here are two approaches I’ve used successfully:

  • Pomodoro Technique: Set a timer for 25 minutes and work with intense focus. When the timer dings, take a short break. Rinse and repeat.
  • Commit to 5 Minutes: This one’s simple but sneaky. Tell yourself you’ll write or create for just five minutes. If nothing happens, you can quit guilt-free – but more often than not, you’ll keep going once you’ve started.

Ask questions to get unstuck

When I feel like I’m circling the same idea without getting anywhere, I stop and ask myself a question. It’s amazing how a good question can shift your perspective. Examples:

  • “What am I actually trying to say here?”
  • “What’s the simplest way to explain this idea?”
  • “What’s the one thing my audience really needs to know?”

In fact, this newsletter edition arose from my asking myself a question last week in my morning pages: “How do I get people onto my mailing list?”

That single question got me thinking about how I could make my newsletter more valuable to readers. Which sparked the idea of doing regular “how-to” editions. Which led a list of “how-to” topics, which led to “how to overcome creative blocks,” among a number of other ideas.

Sometimes, all it takes is the right prompt to unlock new ideas.

You can use AI – but carefully

ChatGPT or other AI tools can be helpful. AI tools aren’t magic bullets, but they can be helpful for generating ideas or rewriting something that feels stuck. Will the output be perfect? No. But sometimes, seeing something imperfect gives you the push you need to make it better.

In fact, the most useful prompt is to ask it to give you a critique of something you’ve written:

  • What’s missing?
  • What else should I be talking about here?
  • What questions have I left unanswered?
  • I have found this surprisingly useful.

The reality is that the AI’s writing is generally pretty bad, no matter how much context and sample content you give it. But it’s good at finding the holes. (And it can help you take some disorganized ideas and create a coherent outline, as ChatGPT did for me for this newsletter edition.)

Use your body and your community

If you’ve been sitting and stewing, try stepping away. Creativity isn’t confined to your desk:

  • Go for a Walk: Some people swear by this (though I’ll admit, it doesn’t work for me).
  • Talk It Out: This one does work for me. Explain your idea to someone else – your partner, a colleague, or even an imaginary fifth grader. Often, just starting to explain unlocks new clarity.

Pro tip: For me, I only have to say about five words before my brain jumps ahead and starts solving the problem on its own. But if I don’t actually open my mouth and made sounds (words!) nothing happens.

Do the simplest thing that could possibly work

If all else fails, strip it down to basics. Ask yourself: What’s the simplest way I can move this forward right now? Take a messy first step.

  • Write one sentence.
  • Sketch one rough idea.
  • Build the barest outline.

Perfection isn’t the goal – getting started is. And once you get started, often you can keep moving.

These tools aren’t magic, and that’s OK

Warning: We are all human, including me.

I know all these techniques. I’ve written about them before. And yet, I don’t always use them – I forget, or they don’t always work. That’s the nature of creation, especially if you’re striving for a high standard.

Even great authors missed deadlines. Hemingway. Woolf. Wallace. They struggled with the same creative demons we all face. These tools don’t guarantee brilliance, but they improve the odds, and sometimes, that’s all we need.

Final thought: Creativity follows action

Creativity isn’t always fun, and it isn’t always easy. But the more you show up, experiment, and try different approaches, the better your chances of breaking through.

At least for most of us (me!) thinking about something doesn’t move me very far. But writing about it, presenting about it, talking about it – that’s when the magic happens.

These tools and techniques won’t work every time, but they’ve worked enough times for me to keep using them – and I hope you’ll find one or two that work for you.

What do you do when you’re stuck?

Comment below and let me know – I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

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