Marketing should be involved for clear checks and balances. Marketing is suppose to clearly identify the market needs for a roadmap. Sales is there to sell. In the event Sales is getting other feedback from the market then this should be funneled through marketing. To keep the proper checks and balances is clear: Marketing defines the product, Sales is selling to qualified leads, and the design team designs what is defined. In the event the design team has a technical challenge then this is brought up during the prelaunch phase and testing.

Finding yourself caught between the demands of sales and design can be a common challenge for product managers. While sales teams often prioritize features that directly impact revenue, design teams focus on creating intuitive and user-friendly experiences. Here's how to navigate this delicate balance: Shared Vision: Collaborative Goal Setting: Involve both teams in defining clear product goals and objectives. This shared understanding will help align priorities and avoid misunderstandings. Regular Communication: Foster open and honest communication between sales and design teams. Encourage regular meetings and discussions to share insights and concerns.

When sales and design clash on product features, I bridge the gap by creating a "collaboration blueprint" - a shared document mapping both teams objectives to common business goals like customer experience or revenue impact. I also facilitate "Empathy Exchanges", where sales illustrates real client needs & design shares user experience insights. This cultivates a deeper mutual respect, turning friction into insight-driven solutions. Additionally, I organize hands-on workshops where departments experience each others challenges directly, fostering a unified approach that empowers each team to innovate toward shared outcomes.

Host a Casual Meetup Get everyone together over coffee or maybe some tacos. A relaxed setting helps people drop their guards and actually talk like humans. Role Reversal Day Have sales folks dabble in design tasks and designers sit in on sales calls. Walking a mile in each other's shoes can spark some much-needed empathy. Create a 'No Ego' Zone Set up a meeting where titles and egos are checked at the door. Encourage open, honest dialogue without the usual corporate fluff. Inject Some Fun Organize a quirky team-building activity that mixes both teams—think escape rooms or improv classes. Laughter breaks down barriers.

Try pleasing everyone, end up pleasing no one. Try bridging the communication if you want to be a backlog manager instead of a product manager. This situation is nothing atypical. To get out of it you need to: 1. Define the goal 2. Focus on the customers' jobs 3. Identify what drives value for the business and customers 4. Make decisions based on evidence 5. Focus on one priority at a time, singular, not plural