The Art of Saying No to Stakeholders
Saying no is a core PM skill. But how you say no matters just as much as saying it.
Never Just Say “No”
Instead of a hard no, offer:
- Alternative solutions
- Trade-offs (if we do this, we can’t do that)
- Timeline options (not now, but Q3)
Make the Trade-Offs Visible
Help stakeholders understand the cost of their request. What else won’t get done?
Build Trust First
The easier you can say no, the more trust you have in the bank. Build that trust through small wins and transparent communication.
Odyslav Bozhenko
Senior Product Manager at Vend Marketplaces, Mobility Pro. Writing about discovery, strategy, and the craft of shipping great products.
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