Cross-Functional Alignment
Stage 1 · The challenge in the room
Mid-review, in front of a dozen people including leadership, your Design partner says: “Honestly, I think this approach is wrong. It'll make the experience worse and I don't get why engineering went this way.” It lands sharp. The room goes quiet and looks at you.
What's at stake
Get defensive and you look brittle in front of leadership. Cave to avoid tension and you may ship the wrong thing. The real concern underneath isn't clear yet.