Overrated “consensus”
In several product mentorship discussions, I am asked “ How do I drive consensus across all my stakeholders”. The responsibility without authority expectation from product managers is interpreted the wrong way. Here is why driving consensus is a bad goal to start with:
Consensus optimizes for mediocrity, and when that happens, it kills radical, crazy ideas that could lead to the biggest breakthroughs. Even worse, it results in the loss of the people with these ideas.
Consensus embraces the status quo, and most of us prefer things to remain the way they are today, whether positive or not, as change is not human nature.
Consensus avoids resolving conflicts and tough trade-offs, offering the path of least resistance. Therefore, if you think your job is easy, you are doing something wrong.
Hmm.. so what is important.
Communication is important, and it is not limited to just providing status reports. Effective communication involves conveying vision, ideas, and decisions in a way that is impossible to refute or ignore. It requires understanding others' biases, beliefs, and triggers while being mindful of their personalities, incentives, and drivers. Additionally, communication should flow upwards, downwards, and sideways, and be crisp, clear, and respectful.
Collaboration is essential, and it involves working closely with your team on a daily basis. It is recommended to sit among the engineers, and if possible, spread yourself around. Understanding your team's skills and passions is crucial, as well as knowing their current duties and what they aspire to do. You should communicate priorities and cultivate friendships, be kind, and most importantly, be empathetic.
Inclusion is critical, and it requires involving stakeholders from the early stages of a concept. As the vision and strategy take shape, provide them with detailed information. Respect their time, but don't do their jobs for them. Trust them to do their work with rigor, and make sure you can represent their point of view. Finally, celebrate their contributions and achievements.