Q. How do you tell your client that her suggested product feature is actually a bad idea?
It is important that you and your client start any kind of negotiation after getting on the same page. Reinstating the projects' goals and objectives can be a great starting point. One can easily get swayed by new trends, fads, and influences and hence it is critical to stay grounded and focused on the end result.
Keeping that end goal in mind, you should first re-evaluate your own perspective on the matter. Now if you still believe that the client's revisions are counter productive... you will be in a better position to objectively explain your perspective to the client.
Sometimes, things are not as black and white. The client's suggestions may appear to be the right thing, but your gut may not let you accept your client's perspective, call it experience or plain intuition. You probably just 'know it' and cannot articulate "why" in clear terms. This is where your client management skills are put to test. If you have a healthy working relationship with this client (i.e. one of trust), you may be able to express your opinion honestly and your client will trust your judgement.
The ideal solution in such a scenario is to attach some kind of measurement / validation over a period of time to prove your point. That way if you make the changes recommended by your client and the objectives / targets are not met, it is clear to both parties on whether or not the decision taken was an appropriate one. In fact, armed with the recent data, it is easier to get the client's nod, make any course correction and move in the right direction.
Hopefully the next time round, the client will trust your decision more readily.
My answers to interesting questions on Quora
It is important that you and your client start any kind of negotiation after getting on the same page. Reinstating the projects' goals and objectives can be a great starting point. One can easily get swayed by new trends, fads, and influences and hence it is critical to stay grounded and focused on the end result.
Keeping that end goal in mind, you should first re-evaluate your own perspective on the matter. Now if you still believe that the client's revisions are counter productive... you will be in a better position to objectively explain your perspective to the client.
Sometimes, things are not as black and white. The client's suggestions may appear to be the right thing, but your gut may not let you accept your client's perspective, call it experience or plain intuition. You probably just 'know it' and cannot articulate "why" in clear terms. This is where your client management skills are put to test. If you have a healthy working relationship with this client (i.e. one of trust), you may be able to express your opinion honestly and your client will trust your judgement.
The ideal solution in such a scenario is to attach some kind of measurement / validation over a period of time to prove your point. That way if you make the changes recommended by your client and the objectives / targets are not met, it is clear to both parties on whether or not the decision taken was an appropriate one. In fact, armed with the recent data, it is easier to get the client's nod, make any course correction and move in the right direction.
Hopefully the next time round, the client will trust your decision more readily.
My answers to interesting questions on Quora
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