As Product Owners, we often find ourselves in the middle of high expectations — from stakeholders, users, and our own teams. The temptation is strong to promise big. After all, everyone loves hearing bold commitments.
But here’s the reality I’ve learned:
👉 Overpromising may win you a nod in the room today, but it will cost you trust tomorrow.
Instead, the most sustainable approach is:
- Set realistic expectations. Ground discussions in data, velocity, and facts.
- Deliver incremental wins. Ship small, valuable outcomes consistently.
- Surprise with impact. Add those extra touches or insights that exceed what was asked.
When you underpromise and overdeliver:
✅ Stakeholders trust your word.
✅ Teams feel less pressure and perform better.
✅ You build a reputation as someone reliable, consistent, and outcome-driven.
For Product Owners, credibility is not about saying yes to everything. It’s about delivering real value, sprint after sprint.
💡 Remember: Your backlog may hold features, but your career holds one backlog item that never changes — Trust. Protect it by underpromising, and grow it by overdelivering.
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