What do you do if your strategic thinking isn't aligning with the overall business goals in product design?

1 Assess Reality

Firstly, take a step back and objectively assess the situation. Review the business goals and compare them with your product design strategies. Identify where the misalignment occurs—is it in the target market, the type of product being developed, or perhaps the timeline? Understanding the root cause of the misalignment is essential. You need to be honest with yourself about whether your strategic thinking is too far ahead of the company's current capabilities or if it's simply not in sync with the overall business objectives. This initial assessment is a critical step in realigning your strategies with the company's goals.

2 Engage Dialogue

Once you've pinpointed where your strategic thinking diverges, initiate a dialogue with key stakeholders. Communicate your observations and concerns clearly and listen to their perspective. This exchange of ideas is vital for mutual understanding. You might discover new business priorities or constraints that you weren't aware of. Engaging in open communication not only helps in aligning your strategies but also demonstrates your commitment to collaborative problem-solving and your flexibility to adapt your ideas for the betterment of the company.

3 Reflect & Adapt

After discussions, reflect on the feedback you've received. Be prepared to adapt your strategic thinking to better align with the business goals. This might mean scaling back some of your more ambitious ideas or tweaking them to fit within the company's current trajectory. The ability to pivot and adjust your plans is a valuable skill in product design. It ensures that innovation does not happen in a vacuum but rather in tandem with the company's growth and market realities.

4 Educate Stakeholders

Sometimes, the issue may be that stakeholders don't fully understand your strategic vision. In such cases, take the opportunity to educate them about the long-term benefits of your product design strategy. Present data, trends, and projections that support your approach. By providing a clear rationale and demonstrating how your strategy can help achieve business goals, you might sway opinion and gain the support needed to move forward.

5 Build Consensus

Building consensus is about finding common ground and forging a path forward that everyone can agree on. Work with stakeholders to develop a revised strategy that incorporates both your innovative ideas and the company's objectives. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone has a stake in the product design's success. Building consensus may require compromise, but it will lead to a more cohesive and supported strategy.

6 Implement Changes

Finally, once consensus is reached, it's time to implement the changes to your product design strategy. This might involve adjusting project timelines, reallocating resources, or modifying product features. Implementation should be methodical and well-documented, ensuring that every team member understands their role in executing the new strategy. Remember, successful implementation hinges on clear communication and ongoing monitoring to ensure that the strategy continues to align with business goals over time.