Collaborate with stakeholders to clarify what success means for each feature. If they understand that features will be released in stages or with some limitations, it will be easier to manage expectations. Also, provide stakeholders with a clear timeline for when they can expect each feature. If possible, give specific dates or timeline for each phase - e.g. Feature 1, Feature 2 will be done by the end of next month, followed by a beta release the month after.

When stakeholders push for immediate feature requests, effective communication and early involvement are key. Keep stakeholders informed about priorities and constraints, and bring them into the process early so they understand the trade-offs. When requests arise, frame it as a prioritization conversation: “How should we prioritize this, given our current commitments?” This shifts the focus to collaboration and helps them acknowledge potential conflicts. Additionally, dig into the “why” behind the request—often, it’s solving a perceived problem. By understanding the root need, you might find an alternative or less disruptive solution. This approach manages expectations while maintaining alignment.

Stakeholders always want their feature now, but guess what? I run the product, not them. I don’t just say yes to every request. If it aligns with our vision and moves the needle, we’ll plan for it. If it’s just reacting to the latest trend or internal pressure, I push back—hard. I tell them straight: “We can do this, but here’s what it’s going to cost—time, resources, and potentially delaying something more valuable. Still worth it?” Most of the time, once they see the trade-offs, they rethink their urgency. And if they don’t? Well, that’s why I’m in charge of the roadmap.

Great insights! Managing urgent stakeholder requests is all about balancing priorities and clear communication. I always align requests with business impact and roadmap feasibility, ensuring stakeholders understand trade-offs. When immediate execution isn’t possible, I provide data-backed reasoning and explore alternative solutions. Transparency and collaboration help build trust while keeping the product strategy on track. - How do you handle last-minute feature demands?

The best way to handle urgent feature requests is to: - Establish that the team has a fixed bandwidth (you can't make nine babies in one month). - Quantify team throughput (e.g. 2-5 features per sprint). - Educate stakeholders that quick & dirty work erodes long-term velocity. Once these truths are accepted, prioritisation pressure shifts from Product to stakeholders, who debate which features drive real impact. But here’s a thought: could product architecture eliminate velocity erosion by making features easy to build, discard, or isolate? If so, it could drive experimentation and ease stakeholder pressure.