I enjoyed reading your article, Amy! I hadn't heard of the phrase mushroom management before, but it's a great analogy. Open, transparent communication and great collaboration between all parties is key.
On the flip-side though (and as a novice mushroom picker back in the day), mushrooms tend to multiply and spread if they are left alone to grow in the wild! In a business sense, far too little stakeholder involvement and check-ins could have similarly negative business outcomes.
This article hit me hard—it’s such a perfect breakdown of "mushroom management," and @Amy Mitchell's practical strategies for product managers are a breath of fresh air. I especially loved the reminder that frustration won’t fix the problem but bringing stakeholders into the light will.
One question that came to mind: How would you suggest product managers build trust in particularly high-pressure environments, where stakeholders feel compelled to "bypass" for speed?
When stakeholders bypass for speed, they need to see that it is slower to get what they want.
For example, a stakeholder with a hot new customer opportunity runs to engineering to change a few lines of code. Engineering points out the code change needs regression testing and suggests stakeholder contacts product manager about following the change process.
It takes the whole team to shine a light on mushroom managment!
Thank you, Amy—this perspective is so insightful. It’s true that the process itself often speaks louder than words, and having engineering redirect stakeholders to the product manager reinforces the value of structured collaboration.
I also appreciate how you framed it as a team effort to shine a light on mushroom management. It’s such a powerful reminder that building trust and clarity isn’t a solo mission—it’s something we achieve together, step by step.
Great insights, Amy! I've experienced this dynamic but could never quite explain what was happening. Your solutions around transparent communication and structured decision-making are super practical. Thanks for breaking this down.
I enjoyed reading your article, Amy! I hadn't heard of the phrase mushroom management before, but it's a great analogy. Open, transparent communication and great collaboration between all parties is key.
On the flip-side though (and as a novice mushroom picker back in the day), mushrooms tend to multiply and spread if they are left alone to grow in the wild! In a business sense, far too little stakeholder involvement and check-ins could have similarly negative business outcomes.
True that we need just the right amount of stakeholder involvement for product success!
This article hit me hard—it’s such a perfect breakdown of "mushroom management," and @Amy Mitchell's practical strategies for product managers are a breath of fresh air. I especially loved the reminder that frustration won’t fix the problem but bringing stakeholders into the light will.
One question that came to mind: How would you suggest product managers build trust in particularly high-pressure environments, where stakeholders feel compelled to "bypass" for speed?
When stakeholders bypass for speed, they need to see that it is slower to get what they want.
For example, a stakeholder with a hot new customer opportunity runs to engineering to change a few lines of code. Engineering points out the code change needs regression testing and suggests stakeholder contacts product manager about following the change process.
It takes the whole team to shine a light on mushroom managment!
Thank you, Amy—this perspective is so insightful. It’s true that the process itself often speaks louder than words, and having engineering redirect stakeholders to the product manager reinforces the value of structured collaboration.
I also appreciate how you framed it as a team effort to shine a light on mushroom management. It’s such a powerful reminder that building trust and clarity isn’t a solo mission—it’s something we achieve together, step by step.
Great insights, Amy! I've experienced this dynamic but could never quite explain what was happening. Your solutions around transparent communication and structured decision-making are super practical. Thanks for breaking this down.
Action is better than frustration! Thanks Rohan!