Product managers serve as the intersection point for many different stakeholders with competing priorities. This balancing act requires careful navigation and strong communication skills.

Key stakeholders product managers typically work with include:

• Users: Who need products that solve their problems effectively
• Engineering teams: Who have technical constraints and implementation concerns
• Business leaders: Who focus on revenue, market share, and strategic goals
• Sales and marketing: Who need sellable features and compelling stories
• Customer support: Who deal with user problems and feature requests

Each group has valid perspectives that contribute to product success. The product manager's job isn't to satisfy every request but to make informed tradeoffs that serve the product's overall goals. This often means saying "no" or "not yet" to good ideas that don't align with current priorities.

Effective product managers build trust with stakeholders by explaining the reasoning behind decisions, showing they've considered different viewpoints, and tying choices back to agreed-upon objectives. They create transparency around the prioritization process without getting stuck in endless debates or political maneuvering.