Orphaned Good Intentions (the wait and see Product tactic)

If you’ve been in a true Product position (where you interact with stakeholders, partners, and customers who have an endless amount of requests), you’ve been in a situation where there is a disagreement that leads to a compromise.

Stakeholder: We should do X Product Person: What if we try Y and see how it goes

In that situation, the stakeholder might feel heard in the moment… the product person might feel accomplished… but there is now an unstated expectation. And as we know Unstated expectations are resentments waiting to happen.

So what do you do?

Get an agreement.

Put the work on them…

Stakeholder: We should do X Product Person: What if we try Y and if you see the same results in a month, please reach back out and we’ll reconsider

… or put the work on Product/data…

Stakeholder: We should do X Product Person: What if we try Y and we’ll monitor this measureable… if it is below Z threshold in a month we’ll reconsider

But do not have orphaned good intentions that leave room for Unstated expectations 💪🏾