Product Managers Will Commit To A Release Date But Will Fail To Deliver

In product management, setting and tracking release dates is an essential yet challenging task. While some product management gurus recommend avoiding committed dates, relying solely on the now/next/later prioritization methodology, this approach can sometimes lead to chaos in execution. 

Specific delivery dates play a crucial role in making product management practical and streamlined.

Why Are Release Dates Crucial in Product Management?

Track and release dates not only help in organizing tasks but also ensure the entire team works towards clear objectives. When a committed date is set, it provides a structured framework that:

• Sets Actionable Goals: Helping teams measure progress effectively.
• Enhances Transparency: Leaders and stakeholders know when to expect the next product release.
• Resolves Dependencies: Teams can align their deliverables, ensuring no one is blocked.
• Creates Urgency: Everyone operates under shared constraints, driving accountability.
• Builds Accountability: Each member knows their role and responsibilities to deliver on time.

However, the reality of product management often involves missed deadlines due to unforeseen complexities or shifting priorities. What happens when the delivered date does not match the committed date? Here's how you can tackle such scenarios effectively.

Strategies to Handle Missed Deadlines

Break Larger Tasks into Smaller Chunks

Attempting to estimate and deliver large tasks all at once is a setup for failure.

First, estimating large tasks is more error prone than estimating smaller ones. Second, when something goes wrong (while building large pieces of code), the team must re-work much of what they already did. The re-work leads to demotivation and more delay.

A better way to do this is to:

1. Break the project into smaller, manageable chunks to improve estimation accuracy and progress tracking.
2. Assign clear owners and deadlines for each chunk/subtask.
3. Conduct frequent check-ins to identify potential roadblocks early on.

This approach allows for early detection of issues, which helps the team to make adjustments quickly to prevent the project from going off the rails. 

Divide and conquer to stay on track.

Have Multiple Smaller Milestones

Creating smaller, well-defined milestones allows for better progress tracking and keeps the team motivated. These milestones act as checkpoints to:

• Evaluate risks and make course corrections as needed.
• Celebrate small wins to maintain morale.
• Increase transparency with stakeholders.

Each milestone ensures the team works towards achieving their product release date efficiently.

Review Timelines Regularly (Or After Every Milestone)

Regular reviews after every milestone help teams stay on track. Use past data to identify patterns, assess risks, and make informed decisions. Reviewing timelines frequently ensures no critical blind spots hinder progress.

Don't Wait Until It's Too Late

One of the critical aspects of product management delivery is fostering a culture of open communication. When potential delays arise:

• Encourage team members to voice concerns immediately.
• Address risks proactively to avoid spiraling into bigger issues.

Early detection and resolution can save the team from missing future delivery dates.

Understand What Went Wrong

Missed deadlines are only sometimes due to lack of effort. Often, unforeseen challenges or lack of clarity contribute to delays. When this happens:

• Focus on understanding the root cause instead of assigning blame.
• Empathize with the team, building trust and collaboration.

Empathy creates resilience within the team, paving the way for better outcomes in future product releases.

Learn from Failures

Treat missed timelines as opportunities for growth. Conduct a thorough postmortem to analyze what went wrong and how to improve.

• Document lessons learned and share them with the team.
• Implement strategies to avoid similar issues in the future.

As the popular product management quote goes, "Failures are not the end; they are steps toward success."

Conclusion

While missed deadlines are inevitable, they don't have to derail your project or credibility. A proactive approach—breaking tasks into chunks, setting milestones, reviewing timelines, and fostering a culture of open communication—can help you stay ahead.

Remember, managing product release dates with discipline and empathy ensures a smooth process, even when setbacks occur. As a product manager, handling missed deadlines effectively can strengthen your leadership and inspire confidence in your team.

FAQs: Track And Release 

1. Why are product release dates important in product management?

Product release dates help to set actionable goals, improve transparency, resolve dependencies, create urgency, and build accountability within the team. They ensure that the team is working towards clear objectives and can track progress effectively.

2. How can I handle missed product release dates?

To handle missed deadlines, break tasks into smaller chunks, set multiple milestones, regularly review timelines, raise alarms early, and understand the root cause of delays. Learning from failures and empathizing with the team can also help in preventing similar issues in the future.

3. What is the best way to track product release progress?

Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable pieces, set milestones, and regularly review progress. Frequent check-ins and early identification of risks will help you stay on track and achieve your product release date efficiently.

4. How can I keep my team motivated despite delays?

Celebrate small wins, set clear and achievable milestones, and encourage open communication within the team. This helps maintain morale, ensure accountability, and keep the team motivated even during setbacks.

5. What should I do if my product release date is delayed?

Communicate with stakeholders early, identify the causes of the delay, and make course corrections as needed. Addressing risks proactively and learning from the delay will help improve future product releases.