Product Management - Removing Speed Bumps in Your Planning Process

Opinions are like noses.  Everybody has one when it comes to product plans.  Just like noses, no two opinions are alike, making it difficult to garner broad support for any plan.  The speed bumps appear when you’re asked for more information at every step of the approval process.

In many cases the need for more information stems from not understanding the information already gathered.  Here are two tips to help remove the speed bumps that sit between you and an approved plan. 

Apply Your Positioning Skills

Although you are “oh so clear” on the merits of your plan, assume your colleagues aren’t.  For every recommendation in your plan, precede it with internal challenges that exist today because something is lacking.  Elaborate on the consequences to your company if these challenges aren’t addressed.  Lastly, state your recommendation.  Your position will be abundantly clear. 

Put on Your Sales Hat 

Sending a plan to your colleagues via email and asking for feedback renders a lower response rate than a bad junk mail campaign.  Formalize the process of approving your plan by gathering everyone for a face-to-face or live web meeting and perform your best sales act.  Prepare a presentation with your key recommendations and the issues addressed by each.  Keep the details in a document and use it as a handout to complement your presentation.  Be passionate!

The moral of the story?  People don’t buy what they don’t understand.  Whether you’re selling products and services to prospective customers or selling ideas to your colleagues, emphasize the “why” behind your ideas more than the ideas themselves.  The road to approval will be much smoother.

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