Great leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers. They’re the ones who know which questions matter. Nowhere is this truer than in product decision-making.
When facing ambiguity, strong product leaders resist the urge to rush into solutions. Instead, they slow down just enough to ask sharper questions that cut through noise. A few that consistently elevate decision quality:
-
Do we have the expertise to make this decision?
If not, who needs to be in the room, or what evidence do we need before moving forward? -
How reversible is this decision?
If it’s a two-way door, decide quickly. If it’s a one-way door, pause for deeper analysis. -
What data or evidence would change our minds?
This prevents confirmation bias. If you can’t name evidence that would alter your course, you’re not really testing assumptions. -
What does success look like, and how will we measure it?
A decision without a success definition is just an activity. Metrics keep teams honest.
These aren’t exhaustive. But they reveal the habit that separates great product leaders: using questions as a discipline to sharpen judgment.
You don’t need to have perfect foresight. You just need the humility to ask better questions, and the discipline to listen to the answers.
Related reading: