How can you build and maintain strong relationships with partners and vendors as a product manager?

“If you are talking to everyone the same way, your message will not get across as you want, and in some cases to your most important stakeholder” when working with suppliers and vendors, you need to understand that for sure their Targets and needs will be completely different than yours and if you want to build successful relationships, the first question should be, what’s in it for them? Everyone wants to achieve something and has challenges in his way to reach it. Additionally, they have vision and strategy to achieve it. Your first task would be to understand if your organization and the vendor/supplier match from vision and strategy. Next, are they heading now in similar direction. Can you help them in their challenges and Vice versa?

?? Strong partnerships are the backbone of product success. I'd focus on deeply understanding partners' and vendors' needs and objectives, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship. Clear, regular communication maintains transparency and addresses concerns promptly. Conflict resolution and expectation management are key and handled with professionalism. Providing value and acknowledging their contributions enhances collaboration. Regularly seeking feedback leads to continuous improvement. Building trust and rapport is fundamental and achieved through honesty and reliability. These practices ensure robust partnerships crucial for successful product development and organizational growth. ????

By understanding the 'what's in it for me' for your partners and vendors you can better map that to be aligned with your product vision and strategy. Being thoughtful about setting these expectations up front and early can help avoid disappointment later as well for both parties. If you can seek to find win-win scenarios of what success will look like in the partnership and business relationship it goes a long way when you are in the grind of working together on whatever initiative you may be engaged in.

???♂??? So the billion-dollar question is - how can you master this art of stakeholder influence? Here are three key steps: 1?? **Listen Actively ??:** As a startup mentor and founder CEO, I firmly believe that the bedrock of all influence is understanding. And this understanding blossoms not from talking, but from listening. ! 2?? **Communicate Clearly ??:** A startup's journey is often clouded with uncertainties. As a leader, it becomes paramount to convey your vision, strategies and decisions in a well-articulated manner. 3?? **Show, Don't Tell ??:** Actions indeed speak louder than words. Talking about a plan is one thing, committing to it is another. Let your actions speak your commitment.

When working with partners/vendors, I believe it’s important to over-communicate - especially as you work through the implementation of features. For each meeting with partners/vendors - have an agenda - take notes - always followup with a recap including action items & owners When delivering features on your roadmap requires partners/vendors, your ability to communicate and manage internal & external stakeholders is critical to your success.

A big part of communicating as a product manager is checking in regularly. Instead of expecting partners and vendors to send updates, it is far more efficient to reach out and ask. This not only eliminates missed updates, but also reduces the risk of misalignment and stakeholders delivering the wrong thing. I personally believe that there is no such thing as over-communication, but there definitely is under-communication.

I would take the following approachs: Be Empathetic: Grasping the perspectives and aims of partners and vendors is key to conflict resolution. Understanding their positions leads to effective solutions. By empathizing, we de-escalate tensions and open communication channels. Clear expression of our understanding and objectives fosters a collaborative environment for identifying win-win scenarios. Be Upfront: Maintaining honesty in communication, especially regarding challenges, builds trust and respect. Tackling issues directly and transparently is vital for constructive and respectful professional relationships.

1. Clear Communication: Establish transparent communication channels. 2. Collaborative Planning: Involve partners in strategic planning. 3. Regular Check-ins: Schedule frequent progress meetings. 4. Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts promptly and diplomatically. 5. Performance Evaluation: Regularly assess and provide feedback on performance.