What are the things we SHOULD NOT do if we want to influence the roadmap?

If your goal is to influence the product roadmap there are a few pitfalls you should avoid. Don't treat the roadmap as something fixed/set in stone - Having a roadmap is super crucial to helping focus product teams + also giving the market a clear sign on where you are going. However, there needs to be a fine balance here, so that you don't miss opportunities to meet the moment. A better approach - is to recognize that roadmaps are dynamic, frame your input as a way to enhance priorities or resp ...Read More

This is a great question to ask here.   To start with, don’t just bring problems without solutions. I think we have all seen this – someone walks into roadmap planning meeting and says “customers are complaining about X” but has zero ideas about what to do about it. That’s not influence, that’s just noise. Instead come with a couple of approaches, even if they are very rough ideas. Show them that you’ve thought it through.   As you propose and talk through ideas start with a ‘why’ rather than a ...Read More

Haha, good question! Here are some things I can think of: Don’t do the PM’s job for them. If you have an idea, recommend and discuss it rather than force it.  Don’t recommend something without due diligence. Ensure you can answer ‘Why is this so important,’ ‘Why now?’ and ‘How does it align with our goals.’ Don’t be biased. Just because it didn’t work for you or for that one very vocal customer doesn’t mean that the world is ending and the roadmap needs to be changed now. Proactively build a cas ...Read More

We often hear that Product Marketing is a blend of art + science. Well early on in my career, I'd come mostly from a place of art and then dragging very slowly behind...the science. I'd frequently find myself wondering why my voice didn't feel heard and then it dawned on me: for a business to run at hypergrowth speed, it needs that blend of art + science but one without the other is a recipe for disaster. If you're trying to influence the roadmap, come prepared with customer insights, field inpu ...Read More