Saying No - All Things Product Podcast with Teresa Torres & Petra Wille

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Saying no is hard — but it’s essential to great product management. In this episode of All Things Product, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres dive deep into the art (and science) of saying no as a product manager.

They explore why learning to say no isn’t just a skill — it’s core to the job — and how to do it thoughtfully without losing trust or momentum.

From frameworks for filtering ideas, to the magic of “not yet” vs. “hard no,” to when it’s okay (and even encouraged) to just say yes — Petra and Teresa unpack real-world tips you can apply with your team today.

Topics Covered:

• Why saying no is an essential part of being a product manager
• How to embrace the reality that there’s always more work than you can do
• Creating systems for capturing and evaluating ideas from anywhere
• Frameworks for deciding: Is it right for my team? Is it right right now?
• How to manage stakeholder expectations with transparency and regular rituals
• The difference between a hard no, a not yet, and an easy yes
• The importance of small wins and the value of a "Friday afternoon list"
• Balancing strategic focus with room for spontaneous moments of customer love

Key quotes:

• "You’re not Santa Claus. You can’t give everyone what they want."
• "Good ideas can come from anywhere — the hard part is choosing the right ones for right now."
• "A motivated engineering team is sometimes the best outcome you can deliver."

Resources & Links:

• Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
• Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com

Mentioned in the episode:

• HIPPO prioritization model
• Shifting from Outputs to Outcomes: Why It Matters and How to Get Started
• 6 Guiding Principles for Effective Product Discovery
• Idea backlog
• Ask the Community: What Do You Do When You Inherit a Giant Product Backlog?
• Opportunity Solution Trees: Visualize Your Discovery to Stay Aligned and Drive Outcomes
• How Linear builds product from Lenny’s Newsletter
• Product Discovery Course by Teresa

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