Why Product Vision Should Trump Market Demands: A Contrarian View
In the dynamic world of product development, there’s a counterintuitive truth that many of us learn through experience: sometimes, less feedback is more. As a product engineer and ex-founder in the thick of development cycles, I’ve realised that while customer input is valuable, it shouldn’t be the sole driver of product development. Here’s why.
The Pitfall of Market-Driven Products
It’s tempting to think that the more we listen to the market, the better our product will be. After all, isn’t the customer always right? Well, not quite. The hard truth is that the more we let market influences shape our product, the more mediocre it tends to become.
This isn’t to say we should ignore our customers entirely. Far from it. But there’s a fine line between listening to your market and letting it dictate your every move. When market demands start leading the product roadmap, it’s often a sign that a product has lost its innovative edge.
The Role of Engineering in Product Vision
As a product engineer, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial maintaining a strong product vision is. While sales and marketing teams provide valuable insights, they shouldn’t be the primary drivers of product direction. With their deep understanding of technological possibilities and constraints, engineering teams play a vital role in shaping a product’s future.
The Right Way to Make Customer Discovery
Customer discovery is undoubtedly crucial. Testing with users is vital for understanding how to inspire and engage them, especially regarding user experience and feature prioritization. The key is to do this at a repeatable level, focusing on specific, open questions and diving deep into the ‘why’ behind user responses.
Quality Over Quantity in Feedback
In today’s data-driven world, we can collect overwhelming feedback. But more isn’t always better. There’s such a thing as too much feedback. The real skill lies in discerning what’s truly important amidst all the noise. As engineers, we need to filter this feedback through the lens of technical feasibility and long-term product sustainability.
Maintaining Your Vision
The bottom line is that your vision should come before product demands. It’s about striking a balance. Listen to your market. But don’t let it drown out your unique vision and insights. That’s where true innovation lies.
Remember, some of the most revolutionary products in history weren’t created in response to market demands. They were born from a visionary’s ability to see beyond what users thought they wanted, combined with the technical expertise to make it a reality.
So, to all the product engineers, managers, and innovators, trust your vision and technical instincts. Use customer feedback as a tool, not a crutch. And don’t be afraid to stick to your guns when you know you’re onto something big.
People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.
