Every stakeholder request is urgent so first step is to understand and determine “Is it really urgent?” Next is where your prioritization skills are put to test, if a request is urgent compared to other planned things on the roadmap then - Understand the scope - Determine the impact - Prioritize and ADJUST the roadmap To regain control you can do the following - Suggest a sub optimal path to avoid delay -Avoid scope creek -Ask for additional resources and help -Communicate effectively with stakeholders and cross-functional partners -Say “No” if you have to Lastly, staying on track does not mean doing it all, instead it is how to maximize the value for customers and hit the target metrics for business in the specified time.

At Salesforce (while leading API governance) several product and engineering teams urgently needed to bypass our API standards to meet launch deadlines. Rather than just saying no, I quickly evaluated each request's technical impact and created an expedited review path for critical launches. For urgent needs, we helped teams adapt their APIs to meet standards without delaying their releases. The key was collaboration - working directly with engineering leads and PMs to show how standardized APIs would actually accelerate their future releases while ensuring platform stability. This earned their trust and turned many of them into API governance advocates.

- Every decision comes with a price. When we prioritize one option over another, we inherently deprioritize alternatives, sacrificing potential benefits and incurring opportunity costs. - Evaluate how new requests align with your strategic goals and product vision. - Keep stakeholders informed about the implications of shifts in priorities. - Establish clear limits on when to accommodate requests and advocate for your original plan.