In this episode of the Convergence Podcast, host Ashok Sivanand and guest Bailey O'Shea dive deep into the critical role of timelines in product development. They explore how understanding the "why" behind timelines can lead to better stakeholder alignment, feature prioritization, and overall product success.

Bailey O'Shea, drawing from her experience as a former Head of Product at Integral, shares valuable insights on balancing specificity in timelines with transparent communication about uncertainties and risks. The conversation covers strategies for effective timeline management, stakeholder trust-building, and adapting to various organizational contexts.

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Inside the episode...

• The importance of understanding the "why" behind timelines
• Strategies for managing stakeholder expectations and building trust
• Using timelines to prioritize features and identify early adopters
• Balancing specific dates with communicating uncertainties
• Tailoring risk communication based on audience
• Adapting timeline approaches for hardware/software products
• Considering investor/funding needs in prioritization
• The role of roadmaps in aligning teams and stakeholders
• Sharing risks and mitigation strategies to invite collaboration

Mentioned in the episode...

• Melissa Perri's Product Thinking podcast
• Brené Brown's work on vulnerability in leadership
• Swagger (API documentation tool)
• Gantt charts
• Waterfall project management