Battlecard: say no to a good idea
Use a concise script to decline good ideas by naming opportunity cost and revisit criteria.
A stakeholder brings a good idea that would disrupt current priorities. Validate the value before discussing priority. Name the specific work, goal, or customer outcome it would displace. Give a revisit trigger so the idea has a fair path back. Do not hide behind 'not on the roadmap' without explaining why. Do not say 'maybe' when the real answer is not now. Do not debate taste when the issue is capacity. This is a good idea. Why are we not doing it? I agree it is valuable. Right now it would displace [current priority], which has stronger reach and confidence.…
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