November 26, 2025
Make roadmap conversations about why
Being a product manager in an enterprise context is different. When you present your roadmap to leadership, watch who asks "what's not on here?" versus "when will this ship?" The first question means they trust your judgment and want strategic context. The second means they are managing your output.
When you get "when will this ship?" don't just give dates. Explain the why behind sequencing. "Q2 because we need it for peak season where it will impact revenue most" or "We're prioritizing checkout over search because it affects 3x more customers." This shifts the conversation from timeline management to strategic leadership.
The best enterprise PMs I know answer timing questions by demonstrating strategic thinking and earn "what's not on here?" trust over time.