• Create a shared list of user problems.


• Prioritize problems collectively.


• Consider user impact and implementation difficulty.


• Identify a clear top 3.


• Document problems to address later.

• Prioritized problem list.


• Shared understanding of what NOT to address now.


• Clear criteria for future prioritization.

Avoid these common issues:

The Solution Trap: People will suggest solutions, not problems. Reframe them by asking about the underlying user pain. The solution might not be what they initially think.

Voting Politics: Prevent lobbying during voting. Voting should be individual and silent to ensure honest assessment.

The HiPPO Problem: The Highest Paid Person's Opinion can skew results. Consider secret voting or simultaneous reveals.

Impact vs. Effort Debates: Arguments about impact or effort are normal. Set a time limit (2 minutes max) per disagreement. Then, use the majority position or split the difference.

Quick Wins Are Seductive: Easy, low-impact tasks are tempting but rarely lead to meaningful change. Use them sparingly.

Documenting the 'No' List: Photograph what you're NOT doing to prevent revisiting the same problems repeatedly. This provides context for future decisions.