Make a difference (2/4): direct access to business stakeholders

Solving for viability involves addressing the different business constraints - marketing, sales, services, finance, legal, compliance, manufacturing, subject matter experts, etc. Product managers should at least have direct access to the business leaders responsible for these constraints.  

Establishing relationships with these people is essential for a product manager. When the product manager has really invested time and energy into learning the concerns and needs of stakeholders, stakeholders are confident that the manager understands the constraints. In this way, they can take part in the solution-making process. 

Product managers can consult stakeholders whenever they are unsure whether something is viable.

Trust between the product team and stakeholders is crucial to finding effective solutions that satisfy both customers and the business.

Therefore, product teams must understand when and how to make occasional high-integrity commitments.