Every product team has faced the HiPPO. That is the Highest Paid Person’s Opinion.
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The CEO walks into the room. They have a brilliant new feature idea. Suddenly your carefully prioritized product roadmap goes out the window.
It feels safe to say yes to the boss. But your job is not to maximize executive happiness. Your job is to maximize product value, and bowing to the HiPPO often bites you later.
What happens when the thing you committed to last week gets deprioritized? Which customers scream and who gets the blame?
When the HiPPO strikes, do not argue. Ask for data. Ask how this new idea contributes to the HiPPO’s goals. Ask how it shifts current commitments. Frame the conversation around resource trade offs.
A great product leader respects authority but honors the data.
Last call for San Luis Obispo
I'm wrapping up a week in SLO. If you're a founder, product leader, or just someone who likes talking shop, I still have a little time today and tomorrow morning. Drop me a note.