Intuitive PM Secrets Revealed

Master Storytelling, Influence, and Gut Instincts to Create Legendary Products

As a kid, I loved those Magic 8 Ball toys - you'd shake them up, flip them over, and get pearls of wisdom like "Outlook Good" or "Better Not Tell You Now" from the little window. Of course, I knew it was just a plastic ball filled with a murky liquid and a dice inside that randomly floated the message. But there was still something mysteriously compelling about it, as if it had tapped into some unseen current of truth.

Product management often feels like constantly shaking that Magic 8 Ball, trying to divine the right path forward for your product amidst a sea of data, stakeholder demands, and market uncertainties. How do you navigate the turbulent waters and make bold bets that shape the future rather than just reacting to the past?

The conventional wisdom says to rely on data—pour over the metrics, build predictive models, and let the numbers guide you. However, as Emre Soyer and Robin M. Hogarth point out in their brilliant article "Don't Learn the Wrong Lessons from Failure," an overreliance on past data can lead you astray when the future diverges from historical patterns. 

What should a PM do when the models fail? I'll tell you a secret: You must learn to trust your gut.

---

The Intuitive Advantage

As a fresh-faced PM, I learned this lesson the hard way. We were developing a new mobile app, and my team had spent months analyzing user data, building prototypes, and iterating based on feedback. The App looked solid on paper—it solved actual user pain points, and metrics from our beta tests were promising. 

But something just felt...off. Call it a hunch, a nagging intuition, but I had this persistent gut sense that we were missing a key ingredient, that vital X-factor that would make our App truly remarkable and beloved.

I spent sleepless nights tossing and turning, my mind swimming with vague notions of what could take the App to the next level. I'd wake up groggy and jot down incoherent ideas that my rational brain dismissed as borderline crazy during the day.

Then, one night, it hit me—a weird, wild, slightly unhinged idea that made me snort out loud at 3 a.m. This was it, the missing magic touch! Sure, it defied all the user research and best practices, but something in my bones said this bizarre concept could be game-changing.

Naturally, I ignored my craziness (gut) and didn't talk with my team, and we moved forward as we planned. After all, as an engineer, how could I contradict all the data we have? It was nonsense. But I couldn't shake my conviction that this intuitive spark was what our App needed.

Long story short? That wild, intuitive leap became a sleeping idea in my draw, and the App was a total bust. We failed miserably; worse, I never shared my gut with them until today. Some people will be mad at me at this very second... sorry team. Lesson learned:

You just have to voice that inexplicable gut instinct.

In the postmortem, I couldn't shake the gut certainty that things could have turned out so differently if we'd had the courage to go against all logic and instinct with my wild idea. That missed opportunity burned.

As Francis Cholle's The Intuitive Compass articulates so well, our intuitions integrate a vast trove of experiences, observations, and habits of thought that our conscious mind can't fully access. Trusting those gut feelings, even when they defy surface logic, can unlock innovation and success.

While that app failure stung, it taught me a vital lesson—don't ignore your intuitive sparks. They may contain creative keys to escaping the data field status quo.

Balancing Data and Intuition

Now, I'm not advocating tossing out all that user research, A/B testing, and rigorous analysis we put so much effort into. That data-driven grounding is crucial - without it, intuition easily goes off the deep end into pure fantasy. 

No, the sweet spot lies in balancing the rigor of rational analysis with the creativity sparked by heeding what Cholle calls your "intuitive compass." The real magic happens when you can take those semi-formed gut hunches and mold them into prototypes and tangible ideas that you can test, measure, and iterate on.

Rinse and repeat that cycle—analysis sparks ideas, intuition guides where to look next, and building and measuring filters out the bad hunches while letting the promising ones grow. It's a powerful feedback loop of data informing intuition informing data.

So if you find yourself restlessly shaking that proverbial Magic 8 Ball, unsure which way to leap, learn to tune into that still, small voice of your intuition whispering amid the noise. Blending rigorous analysis with instinctive flashes of brilliance allows the true greats in any field to shape the future rather than just respond to the past.

The Art of Storytelling

Of course, having great intuitive product instincts is one thing - getting others to buy into your wild visions is another challenge entirely. We've all been in those demoralizing meetings where we pour our heart into pitching an ambitious idea, only to be met with blank stares and buzzwords about "aligning to the roadmap."

In these moments, the art of storytelling becomes your greatest weapon for igniting belief and inspiring others to trust your intuitive leaps. So, embrace the salesperson in you because you will need it. After all, you are, in fact, selling your idea.

Think about the last time you were utterly transported and persuaded by a story - maybe it was a movie that moved you to tears, a novel that implanted an alternate reality inside your mind, or a captivatingly told anecdote from a friend. Those powerful narratives alter your brain's biochemistry, opening your mind to embrace new perspectives.

The secret lies in creating a metaphorical truth that may defy surface-level logic but rings profoundly true to our humanity. As former Microsoft PM star Steven Sinofsky said, "The logic wears you down while the metaphor carries conviction."

Having learned from my past experience, every time I had the chance to pitch a new "crazy" idea, I went full on it. So when I pitched any of my insane App ideas, I didn't just rattle off a bullet point pitch - I spun an evocative yarn that made people feel the human need it solved at a primal level.

One of those moments was the beginning of ClickSitter; this was me validating the idea:

"Meet Sarah, a 34-year-old working mother of two children, ages 5 and 3. Between her demanding job as a marketing manager and the daily chaos of raising an energetic family, Sarah's life is a constant juggling act.

Her biggest struggle is finding reliable childcare that she can trust. Sarah's had one too many experiences of babysitters canceling at the last minute, leaving her scrambling to find a replacement or call out of work. She's tried asking friends and family for recommendations, but their sitters are often unavailable or unreliable.

That's where ClickSitter comes in. ClickSitter is the "Uber for babysitters" - a revolutionary platform that connects parents with thoroughly vetted, reliable babysitters in their area with just a few taps on their smartphone. No more endless phone calls or relying on unreliable recommendations."

The pitch resonated because I'd first rooted it in a universally felt metaphorical truth about the human experience.

Of course, this doesn't mean just winging it or pitching something totally ungrounded. You must carefully map your narrative structure, balancing creativity and metaphor with rigorous logic and data.

The most persuasive pitches build credibility and set context through well-reasoned analysis and research. But the pivotal turning point comes when you unleash a revelatory insight or idea through vivid, emotionally resonant storytelling. Back up those intuitive flashes with proof points and tangible examples of how you'd manifest the vision.

With practice, you can develop a natural flow between rational exposition, bursts of creative storytelling, and succinctly recapping the key takeaways. It's a powerful one-two punch of logos and pathos - the mind understands the logic while the soul feels the metaphorical truth, and the two combine to breed deep conviction.

Of course, even a masterfully told story may not instantly win over every cynic or skeptic. That's where the art of influence comes into play.

Becoming an Influential Voice

Authentic influencers don't just wield logic and metaphors to persuade—they have a preternatural gift for reading people, tailoring their approach, and finding that magical alignment between their vision and others' deeper motivations.

While some may be more naturally gifted, anyone can develop more fantastic influence skills through practice and intention. Here are some specific tips:

Study Your Audience

Before any big pitch, take time to analyze the key stakeholders you need to persuade. What are their backgrounds, priorities, ambitions, and insecurities? The more you understand their perspectives and motivations, the better you can cater to your narrative.

For example, you may lean into their desire to be seen as a bold, future-focused leader when pitching an innovation VP. With a compliance-oriented stakeholder, you'd emphasize risk mitigation.

Read Between the Lines

When people respond to your pitch, pay close attention to body language, tone, and emotional subtext. Visceral, nonverbal reactions often reveal their true resonances and hesitations beyond what they state explicitly.

If you see someone's folded arms slowly uncross or their eye contact strengthen as you hit a certain point, that's a signal to focus on that aspect more. Observing those subtle cues can help you make your narrative stickier.

Find Areas of Alignment

Look for ideological or value-based connections that transcend just the product details. If an exec cares deeply about sustainability, emphasize how your vision aligns with those broader ethics and responsibilities. 

You may bond with an engineering stakeholder over a shared appreciation for craftsmanship or a passion for creating great things. Forge those human links.

Validate Objections, Then Redirect

When you sense doubt or objections arising, don't dismiss them outright. Validate the concerns with empathetic remarks like "I can appreciate your hesitation around the high costs..." Then, we quickly pivot to reframing it as an opportunity or worthwhile risk.

This disarms resistance and shows that you've genuinely considered their perspective before presenting your counterpoint. It builds trust in you as a credible, poised leader.

Be Adaptively Persistent

Even a perfect pitch rarely gets 100% buy-in immediately. Influential leaders are tactfully persistent, seeking micro-openings to redirect through continual narrative customization.

For example, if stakeholders don't love the full 5-year vision, you may say, "Okay, I hear your reservations about the long-term aspects. But does everyone feel good moving forward with just the MVP scope for now as we keep iterating the future plans?"

The key is to remain flexible and look for always-forward momentum rather than prematurely abandoning the pitch at the first objection.

Watch world-class product leaders like Marissa Mayer or Andy Raskin.

Use Conscious Framing

How you initially frame an idea shapes everyone's perception of it. If you present something as a "risk," it gets coded as a threat. Reframe the same concept as an "opportunity for upside," and it's instantly more enticing.

When unveiling a bold product direction, avoid words like "problem," "issues," or "challenges," which connote negativity. Instead, use more aspirational framing like:

"This opens an entirely new frontier for us to pioneer..." 

"Imagine how delighted our users will be if we can achieve..."

"This unlocks our ability to create something that's never been done before."

The same underlying idea is presented in a way that captures people's ambition rather than making them recoil.

Leverage Social Pressure Constructively  

We all unconsciously crave social conformity and approval to some degree. You can use this to your advantage by getting early buy-in from respected stakeholders or executives.

Once you have their endorsement, you can capitalize on people's natural hesitance to be contrarian. Statements like "Well, Janet from Engineering and Marc from Product both think this is a huge opportunity..." can go a long way.

Of course, don't force it if you don't have genuine support. But do strategically work to get approvals that can create a cascading effect.

Appeal to Nobler Instincts

Even in a business setting, most people want to believe they're helping make the world a better place beyond just making money. Tap into those nobler instincts and senses of purpose when possible.

You could say, "Just imagine how many families we'll bring peace of mind to if we can make finding reliable childcare less of a nightmare." Or, "This will be something we can all take pride in, creating something that improves people's lives in such a profound way."

Provided it's authentic and not empty pandering, connecting your vision to human impact and meaningful progress goes a long way to inspiring conviction.

In summary, becoming a highly influential voice takes study, nuanced communication skills, current adaptation, and a genuine desire to align with others' deeper drivers beyond imposing your will.

It's both an art and a science of uniting people's heads and hearts around your vision. With self-awareness and practice, you can develop essential persuasion skills through customized narrative, persistent flexibility, and connecting to shared ideals.

Trusting Your Intuitive Mastery

So trust your instincts, fellow product people! When the models, data, and stakeholder feedback cloud your path, don't be afraid to shake up that metaphorical Magic 8 Ball and heed those gut feelings that something profound yet ineffable wants to be born into this world through your work.

Blend the rigor of analysis with the power of story, poem, and interpersonal intuition. Evolve your skills at awakening belief in others through the one-two punch of logical exposition and emotionally resonant narrative art. Become an influential force that harmonizes competing interests and rewrites shared reality around boldly crafted future visions.

It's the path to creating not just competent, data-driven products that dutifully served the present - but transcendent game-changers that will be remembered. The truly great products that shape our lives, cultures, and the arc of human potential.

So trust that intuitive voice, and let your creative instincts ignite the world! Just leave that Magic 8 Ball on the shelf - you've got all the intuitive mastery you need.