What happens when the customer says they won’t sign the big contract without a commitment to a specific feature this year? Or your CEO feels that extracting blood oaths is the way to ensure everyone is working hard enough?
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My answer: “Why?” Why is that feature important to you? What is it about that date? The smartest product people are trying to understand what problem that stakeholder is trying to solve. This helps them understand their customers’ needs better, of course, but it also raises the level of discussion (and maybe you can find a better solution). And try to commit to outcomes rather than output. Has that worked for you? Discuss.