The Ostrich Effect in Product Management

Have you ever ignored a problem, hoping it would go away? That is the Ostrich Effect.

-> What?
We fall into this trap when we ignore bad feedback or data. It is like not wanting to face problems.

-> Why Does it Matter?
Ignoring issues can mislead us. I remember working on a real-estate mobile app and focusing only on the growing number of downloads but overlooking the fact that daily active users were dropping by 15% monthly. This oversight masked a severe issue with user retention.

-> How Can We Overcome It?

  1. Look at All Numbers: Look at good and bad data equally.
  2. Check Often: Always keep an eye on all your metrics.
  3. Learn from Bad News: Use negative feedback to improve.
  4. Talk to Users: User opinions are invaluable.
  5. Fix Fast: Fix issues as soon as they appear.

Remember, no problem gets smaller by ignoring it. Face challenges head-on.

How do you deal with negative data? Share your strategies!

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