How do you take tough decisions?

Anushka Jaiswal
22 replies
As a product owner, what tough decision did you make for your product that initially caused discomfort but ultimately yielded amazing results?

Replies

CY Zhou
I take tough decisions by thoroughly analyzing the pros and cons and considering the long-term impact. Trusting my instincts and seeking advice from mentors also play a crucial role.
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Victor Crum
We took the risk of launching in a new international market without extensive market research. It paid off with unexpected demand and rapid growth.
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Anushka Jaiswal
@victor_crum Taking the risk of launching in a new international market without extensive market research sounds daring!! Thanks for sharing Victor. How did you adapt your strategy once you started seeing such positive results in the new market?
Gurkaran Singh
Making tough decisions is like debugging code - you identify the issue, weigh the options, and execute the fix! As a product owner, I once had to sunset a beloved feature to prioritize innovation, and although it stirred some waves, the end result was smoother than a finely tuned algorithm!
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Anushka Jaiswal
@thestarkster Wow! Thanks for sharing Gukaran! I love your analogy of making tough decisions to debug code – it’s so accurate.
Abhra Chakraborty
Hi @anushka_jaiswal! 😄 As a fellow product owner, I totally understand how challenging tough decisions can be. I once decided to pivot our entire roadmap based on early user feedback, and though it was nerve-wracking, it ultimately led to a much more successful product launch. The initial discomfort pays off when you see those positive results! 🚀 What was your experience like? 😊
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Anushka Jaiswal
Hey @abhra_ch, Pivoting an entire roadmap based on early user feedback must have been incredibly challenging, but it’s great to hear it led to a successful product launch. Revamping a popular feature to simplify the user experience was a tough call for me. It’s those hard decisions that often lead to the best outcomes. How did you manage the transition and motivate your team during the pivot?
Brigid Stewart
We made the tough call to part ways with a key team member whose vision no longer aligned with ours. It was uncomfortable but necessary for the team’s cohesion.
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Anushka Jaiswal
@brigid_stewart O my God! part ways with a key team member must be difficult for you and the whole team. How did you manage the transition and maintain morale within the team during such a challenging period?
Naomi | Beeyond AI
As a product owner, I decided to offer a 1-month free trial for all users. Initially, we saw a lot of credit card failures at the end of the trial period, possibly due to users using temporary credit cards. And that was frustrating. Even though there were some issues at first, the free trial ended up being a great decision. It allowed more people to try our product without upfront costs, leading to higher overall conversions. The initial issues were worth it because, in the long run, we gained more committed customers and saw better results for our business.
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Anushka Jaiswal
hi @naomigarcia ! Wow! Introducing a 1-month free trial sounds like a bold move, especially with the initial frustrations you faced. It's a great reminder that sometimes the short-term headaches can be worth the long-term benefits. Did you find any particular strategies helpful in addressing the issue of temporary credit cards during the trial period?
Jasper Miles Hawkins
Sometimes you gotta make the hard calls even if it feels uncomfortable in the moment. I had to cut a popular feature that wasn't aligned with our product vision, and while some users were disappointed initially, it let us focus on what really matters and our metrics are way up. Definitely worth the short-term pain for long-term gain!
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Anushka Jaiswal
@jaspermileshawkins That's brave Jasper, It’s worth the short-term pain for long-term gain! How did you manage the user feedback and ensure the transition was smooth?
Julia Watson
We chose to discontinue a feature that many users liked but wasn’t aligning with our product’s core mission. It was a hard decision, but it streamlined our focus.
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Anushka Jaiswal
@julia_watson3 It’s commendable that you prioritized streamlining your focus.👏👏 How did you manage the transition and communicate the reasons behind the decision to your users?
Larry Kim
We had to delay a major feature release to ensure quality. It was tough, but it improved our product’s reputation and customer satisfaction.
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Anushka Jaiswal
@larry_kim3 That's commendable, ensuring quality pays off in the long run. How did you manage expectations internally and communicate the delay to your users and stakeholders?
Lisa Stanley
I opted to overhaul our pricing strategy, which initially worried our team. It led to increased revenue and happier customers in the long run.
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Anushka Jaiswal
@lisa_stanley It’s understandable how it could initially worry your team, but it’s fantastic to hear that it resulted in increased revenue. All the best for your future. 😌👍
Lisa Stanley
I decided to pivot our product’s target market, which was risky at the time. It was uncomfortable, but it opened up a new, more profitable customer base.
Anushka Jaiswal
@lisa_stanley That sounds like a bold move! Pivoting your product’s target market can indeed be risky, but it’s great to hear it paid off. All the best for your future.