Who This Helps
This is for Product Managers who feel stuck in endless debates about what to build next. If you're tired of opinions and want a measurable way to decide, the Market Intelligence & Positioning course gives you the tools. It helps you turn competitor noise into a strategy with clear guardrails.
Mini Case
Zaid's team was arguing over three different feature launches. They spent 3 weeks in meetings with no decision. He built a simple positioning grid, scoring each option against core customer criteria. In 2 hours, they saw Option B scored 40% higher on 'ease of adoption' for their target segment. That became the unanimous next experiment.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Grab a whiteboard or a blank document. Title it 'Positioning Grid'.
- List your top 3-5 potential next moves or experiments down the left side.
- Across the top, write 4-5 key criteria your ideal customer cares about most. Think 'speed', 'cost', 'reliability'.
- Score each move (1-5) for each criterion. Be brutally honest. Use customer quotes or data if you have it.
- Add up the scores. The highest total is your candidate for the next experiment. The grid makes the tradeoffs visible.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't use vague criteria like 'innovative'. Use what customers actually say in interviews.
- Don't let the loudest voice in the room override the scores. The grid is the referee.
- Don't skip scoring a move because it's hard. Forcing a number reveals uncertainty.
- Don't build the grid alone. Do it with 2-3 key teammates to combine perspectives.
- Don't treat the high score as a final answer. It's a strong hypothesis to test.
- Don't forget to include a 'do nothing' or 'improve existing' option for comparison.
- Don't make the grid too complex. More than 5 criteria gets fuzzy.
- Don't file it away. Put the grid where the whole team can see it.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a one-page positioning grid that isolates your best bet. You'll walk into planning with a clear, evidence-backed recommendation instead of another open discussion. Your team will know exactly what you're testing and why. That's how you turn a week of debates into a week of progress. Go make the grid!