By Teresa Torres · producttalk.org · @ttorres on X · LinkedIn
Teresa Torres argues that when a whole company is invited to generate product ideas, every idea deserves thoughtful feedback, since that feedback is what keeps people contributing. She walks through common idea types and how to respond to each: vague ideas need concrete examples, irrelevant ideas get tested against evaluation criteria, impossible ideas are reframed or gently explained, quick practical ideas should simply be built, and good but slow ideas need prompt acknowledgment plus steady communication. The core point is that people mostly want to be heard, so consistent, respectful feedback matters even when most ideas can't be implemented.
01Key takeaways
- Give feedback on every idea, since that is what keeps contributors engaged.
- Ask vague ideas for a concrete example of how they would work.
- Judge irrelevant ideas against your explicit evaluation criteria rather than dismissing them.
- For impossible ideas, assess business impact first and consider whether reframing makes them feasible.
- Build quick, practical ideas promptly, because seeing implementation inspires more ideas.
- For slow good ideas, acknowledge them right away and communicate progress regularly to sustain belief in the process.
02Key sections
- Why feedback on every idea matters
- Opening idea generation to the whole company produces a wide range of suggestions, and giving good feedback is a skill in its own right. The post frames feedback as the foundation of the idea process.
- Vague and irrelevant ideas
- Unclear ideas should be met with requests for a concrete example of how they would work. Irrelevant ideas can be evaluated against the product's stated criteria, such as whether they drive the core business outcome.
- Impossible ideas
- Before dismissing a hard idea, consider its business impact and whether it can be reframed to become feasible. If it truly lacks value, the response should be handled carefully and help the suggester see the constraints themselves.
- Quick wins and slow-but-good ideas
- Quick, practical ideas should be built right away because visible implementation encourages more ideas. Good ideas that take longer deserve immediate recognition, a clear explanation of the timeline, and regular progress updates.
- People want to be heard
- Not every good idea can be implemented, but consistent, diligent feedback keeps people engaged and supplies a steady stream of ideas over time.
03From the post
“On Tuesday, we looked at how to get the entire company involved in idea generation. One of the key steps we highlighted was to give feedback on every idea. Giving good feedback is an art form in and of itself. When you open idea generation up to your whole company,”
Summary and takeaways written by PM Atlas; quotes are short excerpts. © the original author.