How can you be more resilient when dealing with difficult stakeholders in Product Management?

I'm not sure that understanding other perspectives is the first step to more resilience. In my opinion the first step to more resilience is understanding yourself better. What triggers you? And why? What is the job of those voices that show up with frustration and anger? You might get triggered by those different perspectives, but the work to BE more resilient in the face of frustrating situations is one that starts with an inquiry into who you are as a person. (Assuming you're not dealing with people around you who intentionally try to rile you up). From that place you can use curiosity to explore yourself AND those perspectives around you that triggered you in the first place.

Aren’t PMs a difficult stakeholder when they say NO? Similarly every leader is working for the success of their vertical, which ultimately contributes to success of the company’s north star. It is not about tackling them but ensuring a middle ground where expectations are worked out well enough and respective progress is ensured.

Like many other industries, I would try to do the job of other stakeholders for some time, in order to get real empathy of what it takes to be them. To learn what drives the Sales team, try to sell something. To learn the challenges Support is facing, pick up support calls and try to help clients, and so on. Only when you try it yourself you will have a deep understanding of their perspective, and will be so much better perspective to deal with their needs.

Understanding stakeholders is key for resilience: 1. Empathy fosters cooperation and trust. 2. Clarity prevents misunderstandings and conflicts. 3. Tailored solutions address needs effectively. 4. Smooth conflict resolution builds strong relationships. 5. Resilience builds trust for overcoming future challenges. 6. Practice active listening. 7. Encourage open communication. 8. Exercise empathy. 9. Seek diverse perspectives. 10. Be mindful of biases.

Understanding their perspective is a very important aspect. One thing that has worked me is understanding why they are being difficult and being empathetical towards them. As a product manager a lot of collaboration related issues can actually be solved by being Empathetical. Ultimately a PMs role is a lot more than ideation, development, planning, it also means being an anchor in the whole process and everyone on the same page. Empathy can be the greatest weapon in the battlefield for a PM.

To enhance resilience in dealing with challenging stakeholders in Product Management, focus on cultivating empathy, clear communication, conflict resolution, and stakeholder analysis. Build trust through reliability and transparency, maintain professionalism, and stay solution-focused. Adaptability, continuous learning, and prioritizing self-care contribute to a balanced and constructive approach, fostering positive relationships and successful project outcomes.

I totally agree with the fact that setting up clear expectations helps reduce ambiguity at great extend. Having all the data points , progress reports , timeline and a transparent progress of the project enables informed decision making and setting up of clear expectations that are attainable.

Transparent progress monitoring is crucial. By utilizing various tools and reports, you can provide stakeholders with a clear view of the progress. This transparency is key for informed decision-making, ensuring that expectations remain realistic and aligned with the project's status. Additionally, setting clear expectations from the outset helps in aligning all stakeholders on a common vision. This alignment simplifies navigation towards shared goals, fostering a sense of purpose. Having these expectations in place can effectively prevent conflicts. By eliminating ambiguity and ensuring that everyone understands their responsibilities, and the project's objectives, potential misunderstandings and disagreements can be proactively addressed.

Setting clear expectations is like drawing the map for a successful journey. It's about openly communicating what's expected, defining the destination, and ensuring everyone is on the same page. Just as a road sign guides travelers, clear expectations guide teams, preventing detours into misunderstandings and fostering a shared vision. In simple terms, it's the compass that keeps everyone heading in the right direction, creating a smoother path toward success.

Good stakeholders are never easy. Each stakeholder - sales, marketting, finance etc would have depatment KPIs to run the business better and that might not align with your KPI from product standpoint. Having tough conversation is normal when both of you wanted to do better for product/company - in that it is imperative for PM to show skills for storytelling, assertive listening and you win I win strategy. Even after that if you can not handle stratgically and feeling it is hurting you emotionally, i would suggest to set up next session with fresh agenda. sometime breaking the conversation helps bring back the main agenda.

One thing that works well for me: Once I realize I feel frustrated, or angry or anxious is to take a step back and then ask myself: - What is 2% of what this person said that I can agree with - What in me is reacting to their statement and what is the function and message of that emotion? - What can I do for myself to feel safe, grounded, powerful and centered? From those questions I typically find a new path forward.

I learn about the positive intelligence coaching method, where do not let our brain start to judge the people. instead try to use emphathy to response and understand where they are coming from. and do not mix or clouded reality vs what you feel is happening. try to meet their concern and speak through their perspective

Techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or even temporarily stepping away from a stressful situation can aid in regaining composure. Cultivating emotional intelligence is key. it involves not only self-awareness but also empathy towards others, allowing for a more balanced and empathetic approach to conflicts. Regularly engaging in activities that promote mental well-being, like hobbies or social interactions, can also build emotional resilience. By combining these practices, you can maintain clarity and objectivity, ensuring that emotions enhance rather than hinder your professional interactions.

“I reinvented electric cars and I'm sending people to Mars on a rocket ship. Did you think I was also going to be a chill, normal dude?” This is what Musk said to people who he might have ever hurt. If you are working with people better than you and if you get push backs from them, don't take it to heart, learn from each pushback and improve. After sometime, you will see you have become a better version of you. That is the way to manage your emotions in product management. PS: but don't take sh*t from people whom you don't respect or are not better than you.

take it as an opportunity to grow and understand why this stakeholder feel challenging for you. is it there is preassumption or a certain trigger. also imagine if the same thing said by other people will your reaction or his reaction the same. open a 1:1 communication to also iron the conflict or difficulty that you both might felt

Feedback is your compass in the vast sea of improvement. Picture it as having a helpful guide on your journey – someone who points out the best routes and warns about potential pitfalls. In simple terms, seeking feedback means asking for advice and learning from others, just like seeking directions from a knowledgeable friend. It's a crucial tool for growth, allowing you to refine your path, avoid wrong turns, and ultimately reach your destination successfully. So, embrace feedback as your friendly guide, steering you toward becoming a better product manager.

Seeking fresh perspectives is invaluable. When I face work challenges, I turn to fellow PMs and mentors for their insights. It might be a peer with prior stakeholder experience, sharing valuable insights on team dynamics. Or, seeking advice from my manager on handling conflicts and preparing for upcoming meetings. Situational mentorship, especially when starting as a PM, is immensely beneficial. Learning from experienced PMs who've encountered similar people challenges is a valuable resource.

"Instead of proving yourself right, always focus on achieving the right thing”. That being said, there could be situations where your decision might not be the best. Hence, being open to feedback and adapting to changes that best work for the product vision is the only way to build trust and grow a stronger relationship with cross-functional stakeholders. At the same time, one has to keep in mind that not all feedback or change recommendations can be incorporated. So, the Product Manager should be vigilant enough to weigh the customer impact against the effort to make the right decision.

win the war but lose the fight. sometimes if things can be achieve but not with our way but move things to a better direction that is also consider a win

Expanding your skill set beyond your immediate role is key to enhancing adaptability. By gaining insights into various business aspects, you equip yourself to better understand and respond to diverse challenges and opportunities. This broader knowledge base not only enriches your perspective but also enables you to communicate more effectively across departments, fostering collaboration and innovation. Additionally, it prepares you to step into different roles or take on new responsibilities as needed, making you a more versatile and valuable team member. Such cross-functional proficiency is especially crucial in today's rapidly evolving environment.

Being flexible and adaptable in product management is like being a skilled dancer who can seamlessly adjust to different rhythms and styles. It's about embracing change and staying agile, just like a dancer gracefully moves through various steps. In the dynamic world of product development, situations may shift, and requirements can evolve. Being flexible means adjusting your approach and strategies, much like a dancer adapting to the music. This quality allows you to navigate challenges with ease, ensuring that your product stays in harmony with the ever-changing market demands. So, dance through the challenges, be flexible, and keep the rhythm of innovation flowing in your product management journey.

To enhance resilience in Product Management with challenging stakeholders, employ a strategic mindset. Start by understanding their perspective, and unraveling their motivations. Set clear expectations to minimize conflicts, articulating goals precisely. Manage emotions adeptly for effective communication. Actively seek feedback as a continuous learning tool, refining approaches. Embrace flexibility, adapting swiftly to evolving stakeholder dynamics. This precision not only navigates difficulties skillfully but transforms challenges into collaborative opportunities, embodying a resilient product management approach.

The advice here assumes the PM is already in a state of conflict. The best practice is really to avoid conflict entirely by identifying your stakeholders and seeking their inputs beforehand. By doing so, you have made sure that your final output is already prealigned with your stakeholders and addresses their concerns if any. This method, done consistently, helps you earn trust with others and widens your skillset considerably.

On another thing to consider - Maintaining an escalation plan is a valuable tool in effective stakeholder management. I establish specific criteria, and if I find myself in a situation where I've exhausted efforts such as X, Y, and Z without resolution, I activate this plan. Especially in time-sensitive projects, proactively discussing and aligning on an escalation plan with my manager proves invaluable. It ensures a swift response when you are working on time sensitive initiatives.

To empathize with stakeholders, actively listen, understanding their perspectives and emotions. Encourage open dialogue through open ended questions, validate their feelings, and accurately reflect their points. Share your viewpoints, linking them to their concerns, while remaining patient and non-judgmental. Adapt communication to suit various stakeholders, from executives to frontline users. Anticipate and mitigate risks by identifying potential challenges early and developing strategies to prevent delays. Maintain emotional intelligence, managing your reactions to stay composed in difficult situations. Beyond project interactions, build personal connections with stakeholders, fostering trust and rapport.

Dealing with difficult stakeholders can be challenging for any product manager. Some key tips would be: ?? Stay calm - Use mirroring, labeling techniques. Tactical empathy is super helpful. Read Chris Voss "Never Split the Difference" to understand better ?? Keep asking "why?" - Get to the root cause of what is driving the stakeholders interets through curious enquiry ?? Align interests - Illustrate how your product roadmap untimely benefits all parties. Use primary, secondary research to substantiate ?? Communicaticate ( and over Communicate if need be) ?? Enlist Allies - Difficult meetings needs a lot of background work. Work with sponsors, engineering leads beforehand to iron out differences ?? Compromise acknowledging valid concers