Ruthless Prioritization

Prioritization is the most painful part of a Product Owner’s job. Every stakeholder believes their request is critical. Everything is “P0.”

But if everything is important, nothing is.

Frameworks Help, But Gut Check Matters

I use frameworks like RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) or MoSCoW (Must, Should, Could, Won’t) to help structure the conversation. They provide a common language and help remove some emotion from the decision.

However, data isn’t everything. Sometimes, you need to prioritize a feature because it aligns with a strategic shift, or because it builds trust with a key customer, even if the immediate ROI isn’t obvious.

The Power of “Not Now”

Saying “No” is hard. Saying “Not Now” is often more honest and productive. It acknowledges the value of the idea but places it realistically in the context of current capacity and goals.

My goal is always to have a roadmap that is ambitious but achievable, protecting the team from burnout while ensuring we are constantly delivering value.