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Every product manager I coach at some point in time needs to navigate feature requests from stakeholders. Stakeholders say: “I could win this deal if only our product had... “ “I really think we need the product to do... “ Stakeholder requests are a headache. They're an amazing opportunity. The problem with stakeholder requests is that many product managers take the suggestions at face value and park it in the backlog. The opportunity comes from reframing the situation. Instead, use it as a way to help your stakeholders develop their own product mindset. Next time a stakeholder comes to you with a feature idea, sit down with them for 10 minutes and translate it into a user problem. Figure out what success metrics would look like. Brainstorm different ways to solve the problem. A much better outcome than yet another idea gathering dust in the backlog.
This.
The Opportunity Canvas by Jeff Patton is an excellent tool for these discussions. It allows both of you to get on the same side of the [often virtual] table and work through the canvas together.
Jenny Wanger In my experience, The best way is to have a separate pipeline for customer requests. Often PM who is receiving the request might not have time and they would throw it in the backlog. Keeping a separate pipeline allows other PMs to address such requests. The first step obviously will be to analyse the request and as you outlined understand the user problem instead of just the request. Based on that a decision should be taken within x days and communicated back to the customers about the action item.
I love the approach! Thanks Jenny
Product Magic
1moI like this approach. Here’s a couple of additional things that have also worked for me: 1. Use the request as an opportunity to review the backlog together to understand alignment and trade offs. If we did this new request, what gets bumped? 2. Get the stakeholder to quantify the impact of the solution. Would all customers benefit from this request? How much? Or is this something for the biggest client and they might realistically churn without it? This also helps stakeholders think like product.