A key stakeholder disagrees with your mobile app changes. How will you navigate conflicting feedback?

1 Listen Actively

When a key stakeholder expresses dissent over mobile app changes, your first step should be to listen actively. This means giving them your full attention, acknowledging their concerns, and understanding the reasons behind their disagreement. By doing so, you demonstrate respect for their perspective and open the door to a constructive dialogue. Remember, their feedback is often grounded in their experience and understanding of the user base or business needs, which can provide valuable insights that enhance the app's design and functionality.

2 Assess Impact

After listening to the stakeholder's concerns, assess the impact of their feedback on the mobile app. Consider how their suggestions align with the app's objectives, user experience goals, and technical feasibility. It's important to weigh the pros and cons of their input and determine whether it could lead to a better overall product or if it might derail the project's direction. Your role includes balancing different viewpoints to find a solution that serves the best interest of the app and its users.

3 Communicate Clearly

Clear communication is essential when addressing stakeholder disagreements. Explain the rationale behind your proposed changes and how they benefit the app's users and the business goals. Use data, user feedback, or examples to support your points. Ensure that you convey your message in a way that is easy for the stakeholder to understand, avoiding jargon or technical terms that may confuse the issue. The goal is to create a common ground from which both parties can discuss the matter productively.

4 Explore Alternatives

If a stakeholder disagrees with your changes, it's helpful to explore alternative solutions together. This collaborative approach can lead to innovative ideas that might not have been considered initially. Discuss different scenarios and how they could meet the stakeholder's concerns while still achieving the app's objectives. This process not only shows that you value their input but also encourages a sense of shared ownership in the app's development.

5 Implement Feedback

When possible, implement the stakeholder's feedback in a way that integrates their concerns without compromising the app's core functionality and design principles. Sometimes, this may involve making minor tweaks; other times, it could require more significant adjustments. Whatever the case, it's important to show that you take their feedback seriously and are willing to make changes that benefit the app while also respecting the project's constraints and timelines.

6 Follow Up

Finally, after making any agreed-upon changes, follow up with the stakeholder to ensure they are satisfied with the outcome. This step is critical in maintaining a healthy working relationship and building trust. It also provides an opportunity to gather additional feedback that could be useful for future updates or iterations of the mobile app. Your attentiveness to their concerns throughout the process can help to smooth over any initial disagreements and reinforce a collaborative team environment.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?