Idea · carried by 1 source
Influence vs Politics
A critical distinction that reframes the “ick” factor many product people feel about organizational persuasion. Politics is about manipulating outcomes and people for your own gain. Influence is about increasing the odds that your good ideas survive and get built. One is selfish; the other serves users and the business.
Where it comes from
Jessica Fain on Lenny's Podcast (~13:24). Responding to the concern that influence work feels “icky” or like “playing politics”: > “When people frame this as politics, they're completely missing the point. Politics is manipulating outcomes in people for your own gain. Influence is about increasing the odds that your good ideas survive.” highlights/jessica-fain-influence — Full podcast context.
How it works
- Politics = manipulating for personal advantage (promotions, territory, credit)
- Influence = giving great ideas the best possible chance of getting funded, resourced, and shipped
- The skills of curiosity and empathy that PMs use on users should be applied to stakeholders, not abandoned
- If you treat stakeholder conversations as “discovery interviews” to strengthen ideas, you end up with both better products and better relationships
If you believe in your idea, it is your professional obligation to give it the best possible chance of surviving. The alternative — letting great ideas die because you refused to engage in influence — is a failure to your users and your craft.