Why Product Managers Struggle to Say No
Product managers often tell me they struggle with saying no, especially when they feel the need to explain why. The challenge isn’t really how to say no. It’s having enough clarity about what deserves a yes.
There are three questions that can help when making product decisions.
1. Does it create meaningful value for the customer?
Will the customer care about the decision? Say yes to opportunities that solve customers’ problems, help them achieve their goals, or elevate their experience.2. Does it move the company toward where it wants to go?
Companies often have big long-term goals, sometimes a BHAG that should feel a little scary. Use that goal to say yes to opportunities that move you toward it, and say no to those that don’t.3. Does it give us a differentiated position?
Customers have choices. Give them a reason to choose you. Say yes to opportunities that create meaningful differences between what you offer and the alternatives available to them.
There will always be more ideas than we have the time or resources to pursue. And some of the things we say no to will still be good ideas. These are the questions I use to think about product decisions. The questions will change depending on the decision you’re making.
Once you know what deserves a yes, saying no becomes a lot easier.
