How can you address skepticism about your product vision?

Remember that your product is not for all. Choosing the correct audience is also very important. Taking inputs from an irrelevant audience might cause you to steer into a flawed product roadmap. Choose the audience that can give relevant feedback. Once you know the audience is relevant then work towards improving your product to overcome scepticism.

Reasons to approach a product vision with skepticism include: Addressing an unnecessary need Seeming overly idealistic or unrealistic Unclear definition of the target market Lack of a clearly defined value proposition To avoid these pitfalls, focus on: Honing in on your niche Keeping the vision simple and realistic Ensuring clear and consistent communication Securing internal buy-in, as negativity internally can manifest externally.

You don't. If you are passionate about what you're building. Take time to understand your audience and know what problem you are solving for THEM. Not what you think they want. Even if you have built the product because you experienced that challenge - you are still not the audience. Do the research. Build an MVP or even prototype to show potential customers and gain their insights. Eventually, you will determine your product-market fit. This will allow you to show demand for what you are building. That + your passion for what you are building is enough to counter initial skepticism. But remember, it does not end there! You must continually perform customer research to continue to build and grow.

I would start by uncovering root sources of doubt through candid customer conversations and feedback analysis. I would not proceed without getting a strong sense of this. From there on: - Craft a compelling rationale highlighting market gaps our vision addresses - Invest in prototypes early, even if crude, to make the future tangible now - Identify hero customers willing to champion the vision based on their needs - Spotlight data revealing how customers struggle with current solutions - Conviction comes from consistently addressing concerns, not dismissing them - so persist respectfully while showcasing the why behind the vision

Make it simple, relatable, and understable. Apple's vision is “to make the best products on earth, and to leave the world better than we found it.

The evidence should be in the language that the customer understands. It's also important to understand why there was a need for scepticism in the first place. Work on improving on how the information is being communicated.

Occasionally, I meet with folks presenting a vision who have all key components of a pitch with the exception of one crucial aspect: evidence! Or, even worse, their evidence does not strongly correlate with their strategy. This instantly weakens the justification for their vision and strategy. So ensure you're always presenting compelling, relevant evidence! You don't need an abundance of data, you just need sufficient convincing evidence. I like to build a convincing argument by: 1. Providing context to the data: tie it back to your vision. 2. Clearly visualizing the data: make it simple to grasp key points. 3. Painting a story of the long-term. 4. Preparing for counterarguments: consider objections! TL;DR: Data! Data! Data!

Articulate your vision backed by compelling proof points and data-driven insights. Share success stories, customer testimonials, and measurable outcomes to showcase the tangible impact of your product. Leverage your experience and industry expertise to build a narrative grounded in results. In a landscape crowded with promises, let data and evidence be the beacon guiding skeptics towards the undeniable value of your vision. Transform doubt into belief – not with words alone, but with the indisputable evidence of your product's success.

Craft a compelling narrative that showcases your product vision's impact. Here's how: Start with a familiar problem: Connect with your audience by highlighting a relatable pain point they face. Paint a vivid picture: Use clear language and specific examples to showcase how your product solves that problem. Show the struggle: Don't shy away from challenges! Acknowledge them and demonstrate how your vision overcomes them. Appeal to their values: Beyond logic, connect your vision to their aspirations and show how it improves their lives. End with a clear call to action: What do you want them to do next? Leave them with a concrete next step. A strong story leaves a lasting impression and turns skeptics into allies.

All too often a company's vision tries to be everything all at once. The message gets lost in the noise. Get to the core of the vision that taps into emotions. Clearer messaging = stronger buy in

"A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them" - Steve Jobs This legendary quote shows the power of effective storytelling . But every narrative has a starting point and that origin is the key problem being solved. Lets take Airpods(Wireless) as a product category. Wired headphones(for years !!) pretty much did the job . However the hassle of untangling of wires on a daily basis was a problem . Apple was successful in demonstrating that the perception of the problem was big enough to warrant something radical and new, leading to the birth of a new product category altogether . Today, wireless headphones are used ubiquitously, thanks to solving a problem that the customer didn't know needed to be solved!!

Instead of fearing doubts, embrace them as opportunities to strengthen your product vision. Create a culture of open feedback through casual chats, anonymous surveys, dedicated "Ask Me Anything" sessions, or even collaborative workshops. Offer early access to a small group for real-world insights through beta testing. Conduct interviews or surveys to understand the specific needs and pain points. It's not just about collecting data, it's about genuine engagement. Actively listen, ask clarifying questions, and show appreciation for their contributions. By transforming skepticism into a collaborative process, you'll not only address concerns but collect diverse perspectives to build a stronger product.

A product vision often falls flat when it doesn't address the right problem. This is crucial because alignment on the core problem with customers, prospects, and your internal stakeholders is key for execution. Compelling storytelling matters too, and this requires focusing on the “why” — or the product’s value and benefits, rather than only its features. If the skepticism is internal, be prepared to share concrete examples of how you arrived at the vision using research and iteration. If it’s external, work on providing your target audience with new, helpful insights about how the product effectively solves their problem — even if it’s one they didn’t realize they had!

Skepticism might actually be a necessary moment in the buyer journey -- especially for a second-place brand in a category with a clear leader. You're being given a shot if people are expressing skepticism while interacting with your brand, so consider how to listen to the shape of that skepticism to reposition your product and how you talk about it to better answer that skepticism. For example, DDB helped Avis position itself against the question of "why should I rent a car from the number two brand?" The answer: "We Try Harder" -- one of the most brilliant ad slogans ever.

It's not all rainbows and unicorns, create tangible prototypes! Stories can only do so much to convey a vision. Consider creating tangible prototypes or simulations that allow skeptics to experience your vision firsthand. Seeing is believing, and this hands-on approach can be incredibly persuasive. And, invite skeptics across different disciplines to be part of the journey. Share the challenges, setbacks, and lessons learned openly. This transparency builds trust and shows that you're not just selling a vision but committed to making it a reality, no matter the obstacles.

Social validation is a good tool to use for overcoming scepticism. Not everything you say will be believed. Let others speak for you. Join hands with your supporters and good influencers that can create social validation on your product.