As a product manager, your day is typically packed with meetings with various stakeholders

And with stakeholders, your main goal is generally to manage expectations

That could be on things like:

• Negotiating with vendors

• Getting buy-in on a product strategy

• Confirming the team focus for a sprint

• Creating progress reports

In any of these interactions

You are most likely highlighting dependencies and looking to align on ways to eliminate the obstacles

But approaching it this way becomes one-sided

Because you are articulating the dynamics from your point of view

Without fully knowing all the other priorities that each stakeholder is balancing against yours

One way that works so well is to strike a balance between your flexibility and goodwill

Flexibility – focus on pushing priorities that closely align to what’s important to your stakeholders priorities.

Goodwill – at some point, you have pick your battle! Let some things go for the good of the relationship #letitgo

This is a win-win strategy that will still allow you to get what you want while also keeping your stakeholders happy

Have you tried this?

What other ways are you managing your stakeholders?