It doesn't matter if it's a feature, roadmap, or vibe code. Shuttle diplomacy is how PMs survive the chaos of influence without authority. Read on if your roadmap reads like a ransom note.
Bahahahaha. Nearly laughed my coffee through my nose when I read, "The meeting explodes faster than a North Korean peace talk ... You're left holding seventeen different interpretations of the same requirement."
Yes to, "Because every hour you spend shuttling between camps is an hour not spent talking to users, analyzing data, or building something that matters."
Excellent article with actionable suggestions, as always.
I once showed my top 20 priorities to the sales team. Immediately, Kevin, the world's worst salesperson, demanded, "Where's my customer's feature?" (It was like priority 200).
I asked the sales team, "Everybody okay with moving Kevin's thing to #1?" and then the fight broke out. Shouting, beer bottles and pies flying across the room, hands around throats. (I may be remembering this wrong.)
Eighty percent of the sales team suddenly faced the reality of prioritizing for many instead of the one.
What did we learn from The Wrath of Khan? "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."
Thanks, and yeah. Once again, it's all about the soft skills and navigating the politics of influence without authority that makes the difference between good PMs and great PMs.
Not long ago I was reading a post about Meta laying off people and quoting underperforming. Which is where I said no, that's wrong. The hiring process for Meta is so well put together to really identify talent for product management! However, it recruits from small companies and founders that aren't used to corporate politics and this is not something that the interview caters for. The interview actually doesn't even remotely touch on that, despite it being 90% of the job. I suspect that Meta’s interview process includes 1 year after the hiring date too, if you survive it you may have a chance. But people get very disappointed and Zuck is very inconsiderate to say that imho
The point is: you're so right. Politics is the job in big corporations
Hey! Didn't we do a few of these!! Lol :)
Bahahahaha. Nearly laughed my coffee through my nose when I read, "The meeting explodes faster than a North Korean peace talk ... You're left holding seventeen different interpretations of the same requirement."
Ain't that the truth.
Yes to, "Because every hour you spend shuttling between camps is an hour not spent talking to users, analyzing data, or building something that matters."
Excellent article with actionable suggestions, as always.
I once showed my top 20 priorities to the sales team. Immediately, Kevin, the world's worst salesperson, demanded, "Where's my customer's feature?" (It was like priority 200).
I asked the sales team, "Everybody okay with moving Kevin's thing to #1?" and then the fight broke out. Shouting, beer bottles and pies flying across the room, hands around throats. (I may be remembering this wrong.)
Eighty percent of the sales team suddenly faced the reality of prioritizing for many instead of the one.
What did we learn from The Wrath of Khan? "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."
Thanks Steve! For the kind words AND the awesome story!
Many good ways to get stakeholders behind your product initiative! I liked the escape hatch suggestion - in the end, you need to deliver!
Thank you, Dean!
Thanks, and yeah. Once again, it's all about the soft skills and navigating the politics of influence without authority that makes the difference between good PMs and great PMs.
Not long ago I was reading a post about Meta laying off people and quoting underperforming. Which is where I said no, that's wrong. The hiring process for Meta is so well put together to really identify talent for product management! However, it recruits from small companies and founders that aren't used to corporate politics and this is not something that the interview caters for. The interview actually doesn't even remotely touch on that, despite it being 90% of the job. I suspect that Meta’s interview process includes 1 year after the hiring date too, if you survive it you may have a chance. But people get very disappointed and Zuck is very inconsiderate to say that imho
The point is: you're so right. Politics is the job in big corporations