What do you do if your boss doesn't trust your product development skills?

Drawing on from my personal experience, When my boss or even a colleague seemed hesitant about my product development skills, I turned to the one language that speaks volumes, "data" ! I leaned into data, letting insights shape my projects. I share detailed analytics, highlighting how customer feedback and market trends informed our strategy. This approach shifted our discussions from skepticism to strategic planning, with data at the forefront. Reviewing past projects through an analytical lens also revealed valuable lessons, guiding our future direction. Through this journey, data became our common language, rebuilding trust and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Seek Feedback: Request specific feedback from your boss about their concerns regarding your product development skills. Understand their perspective and the reasons behind their lack of trust. This will help you identify areas for improvement. Clarify Expectations: Ensure that you have a clear understanding of your boss's expectations regarding your role in product development. Discuss what specific skills or competencies they believe you are lacking and what they expect from you in terms of performance.

This is a 3-step process that helped me: 1. Get to know your customers. Exploit all tools used by your product to interact with its customers to determine crucial user needs. 2. Map at least one of those user needs with your product's current revenue goals. 3. Arrive at one key idea to bridge the gap. Demonstrate the idea in clear numbers to get your boss's buy-in.

If your boss doesn't trust your product development skills, take proactive steps to rebuild trust. Start by seeking feedback to understand their concerns and areas for improvement. Demonstrate your competence and commitment by delivering high-quality work and meeting deadlines consistently. Communicate openly and transparently about your progress and challenges, seeking guidance when needed. Build credibility by sharing your expertise and contributing valuable insights to the team. Additionally, consider seeking mentorship or professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and build confidence. By demonstrating your value and expertise, you can rebuild trust and improve your relationship with your boss.

Don't assume your boss knows all the details of what you're doing or the reasoning behind your choices. Trust takes time. So does understanding the strength of peers. Take the time to share regular updates, even if it feels like over-communicating. Explain your thought process. Say the challenges you've faced. And, tell the smart decisions you've made to keep things on track. This isn't about bragging, but rather building understanding and trust. Being transparent shows you're not just completing tasks. You're carefully considering the best path forward. Misunderstandings about your work can easily arise. This happens when others lack insight into your process. Proactively sharing context prevents those misconceptions from taking root.

To understand their perspective, improve discussions with boss regarding product development. Keep working and improving self, discuss result with boss and also feel free to ask their inputs when needed.