How do you do, fellow product managers?
We spend a lot of time focusing on serious and important parts of product management, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s nice to remember that the best part about being a product manager is the fun you can have with your team.
20 hilarious product manager jokes and memes
If you’re going through a little bit of a lull, try peppering some of these hilarious jokes and memes into the daily stand-up to start your day with a laugh!
1. How to know if you’re secretly a PM
We’re not sure why all his apps are dating apps, but it’s still a funny comic from Shipping Tomorrow.
PM is a lifestyle, even if you don’t intend it to be.
2. Honestly, just happy to be invited to the bar in the first place!
“A product manager tries to walk into a bar but can't because the door isn't scheduled until next release.”
We must treat our schedules like laws. We must not stray from the path. We must only do as the schedule says.
3. I’ve got 99 problems …
There are dozens of failed attempts for every successful code deployment with zero explanation as to why it failed. Quick, test it again, just in case.
4. Those who can’t code manage.
What happened to the product manager who could only write 3 lines of code?
He got promoted.
There’s a stereotype of product managers that causes some to assume that product managers can’t code. This is actually true (in a sense). Tech companies are looking for someone who can manage people and projects, so coding knowledge is often a secondary consideration.
5. Ask me again later
Developing a product can be a very slow process.
It can look like days and days of work amount to nothing to those on the outside. A good product manager understands that greatness takes time.
Poor product managers continue to focus on deadlines instead of value.
6. Great work team me!
What’s the best way to pay a product manager?
American Express. They love taking credit for things.
When a product is successful, a product manager is directly or indirectly responsible for it and can take credit. Of course, this quickly turned into “product managers take credit for everything,” but we let teams have this little joke while we have the credit. ;)
7. Deadline day approaches
We’ve all had our fair share of product managers that don’t quite understand the project but know it needs to be done quickly, leading to amusing and totally helpful questions like this.
8. This joke gets a C++
What does a Jeopardy loser and product manager have in common?
They both ask a lot of stupid questions
Have you ever spent your evening screaming at the contestants on Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune? That’s how dev teams feel on a very regular basis.
9. Not every idea can be gold
Product managers can’t afford to be nice all the time. Sometimes we have to dish out some harsh truths.
The difference between a good and a great product manager is how you deal with the fallout.
10. Can’t fail to meet expectations if I’m the one setting them
What do you call an engineer who’s not meeting expectations?
A product manager
Ah yes, back to that old faithful product manager joke. Product managers can talk all day and back it up, but they don’t have to. They help set and reach expectations while the dev team are the ones who need to succeed.
11. This list wouldn’t be complete without Dilbert
We’ve all been here. If an organization doesn’t listen to the product manager and the product fails, stakeholders would rarely take the blame. Instead, they’ll mention things like teamwork to shift the blame to everyone else.
12. To be fair, the bar was terrible
“A product manager walks into a bar. It isn’t what they expected, so they immediately blame the product development team for no reason.”
Product managers are responsible for making sure the product works well, not for products that don’t work. So if the product doesn’t work, that’s the development team’s problem, not the PM’s… right?
13. We must stay on schedule
Stakeholders and customers aren’t afraid to give suggestions for improvements, and most of them are not feasible. To escape a long conversation about why they’re wrong, it’s simpler to say we’ll add it to the product backlog and just hope they forget about it.
14. When you put it like that…
A product manager is a lot like a marriage counselor.
They both get people in the room and force them to talk and listen to each other until the problem disappears.
As much as developers may complain, product managers are simply there to facilitate development.
15. Let me finish this first!
Yes, that new feature looks very good. Yes, we should create something to compete, but one thing at a time, please!
16. Time to run discovery on jokes?
After all, even jokes need to provide value to the customer!
17. Okay, but why are we building this?
There’s a reason we just call them “nice to have” features. Development should focus on customer needs, not just something that seems cool.
18. Dark mode solves everything!
Everyone’s adding dark mode to their apps lately, but what about actually addressing key customer concerns? Dark mode is cool. Having happy customers is cooler!
19. This joke sucks
Why are vampires very bad Product Managers?
Because they refuse to meet with "stake-holders".
While this one is just a little silly, it does remind us how important communication is for a product manager. Without constant and clear communication, the product can fail faster than a vampire in the sunshine.
20. Don’t question me
The Product Manager is always right… mostly.
Stay tuned to the airfocus blog
Check out this post if you’re dying for more PM jokes and memes, and stay tuned to the airfocus blog for product management info, advice, and occasional (but much needed) humor!
A version of this article was published in 2022. Last updated November 2024.
Tomas Prochazka
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