How to Let Go of a Product You’ve Built with Passion
Steps to ensure a seamless handover and peace of mind when it’s time to leave your product
There comes a time in every product manager’s journey when, after a period of significant success, it becomes clear that it’s time to move on. You’ve built a product you’re proud of, you understand it inside and out, and you’ve invested countless hours, energy, and decisions into its success.
Then, something shifts. And now, it’s time to step away.
How do you walk away from something you’ve worked so hard to create?
This moment is often described as “letting go of your baby.” It’s an emotional process, but it can be managed thoughtfully.
Write Excellent Documentation
Comprehensive documentation is the most valuable parting gift you can leave. It ensures that anyone stepping into your role—especially your successor—can quickly understand the product’s strategy, structure, and operations.
Detail the product’s history, its vision, key goals, and the roadmap you followed. Document everything you know to provide a complete picture of the product’s past and its potential future.
I recommend using a format I described in my post on Handover Documents earlier.
Communicate with Your Successor
If you know who will take over your role, arrange a handover discussion. Share your documentation with them and go through it together. Take the time to answer their questions and clarify any complexities. This dialogue is critical for ensuring a smooth transition and empowering them to take ownership effectively.
Accept and Let Go
Once you’ve documented everything and had that crucial conversation, it’s time to step away. Trust that your successor will handle the product with care and competence. They will undoubtedly approach decisions differently than you did, and it’s natural to feel uneasy about changes they may introduce. However, you made the choice to move on—embrace it.
Ultimately, letting go means trusting the process, the new leadership, and the foundation you’ve laid. It’s not just the end of your chapter with the product; it’s the beginning of a new one for its future.
Recommended Reading
What I Read
As usual, I will list some of the best articles I read on the Internet. I will keep a list of the best articles (currently >800) at https://www.digital-product-management.com. These are today’s picks:
Remote Leadership Radar: The radar is amazing to discover where you can focus your development path as a leader.
Motivators, Motives, Values, and Preferences Inventory: A list of motivations people may have.
How to Implement Product Principles: Product principles help teams understand what’s most important and what’s less relevant.