Product teams are losing confidence heres how they can get it back

Date:
Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:35:21 +0000

Description:
By bringing information for teams need into one place, AI makes it easier to collaborate.

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Lets be honest, its a tough time to be on a product team. Most product professionals (85%) feel like they finally have a real voice in their
company. Theyre at the table when big decisions are made.

But at the same time, the pressure to deliver results and spark innovation
has never been higher. And heres the kicker: a staggering 84% of product
teams are worried that the products theyre working on right now might not succeed in the market.

Why is confidence slipping? For starters, nearly half of product teams say they dont have enough time for the things that matter most like planning, experimenting, or mapping out their products future.

Without that breathing room, teams are left flying blind, unable to connect their day-to-day work to bigger business goals or make smart, informed choices.

And while AI is great at handling repetitive tasks, its not yet helping with the really important stuff, like deciding what to build next, planning ahead, or digging into complex data. That means product teams are still stuck doing the heavy lifting on the work that actually needs their expertise.

But theres hope. By using AI to take care of the busywork, teams can free up time to collaborate, experiment, and make decisions based on real data , not just gut feelings or outside pressure. Collaboration: The secret sauce (and the struggle)

Ask anyone on a product team what they love most about their job, and chances are theyll say working with others.

But that doesnt mean its easy. In fact, almost 50% of product people say that internal politics get in the way, leading to missed chances and last-minute surprises. Lack of cross-team collaboration is a top concern, and its taking
a real toll on teams ability to deliver.

Great products dont happen in a vacuum: theyre built when teams work together across different roles and departments. Thats why rebuilding trust and confidence starts with better collaboration.

AI can help here, too. By bringing all the information teams need into one place, AI makes it easier for everyone, from product managers to engineers,
to stay on the same page. When everyone has visibility, product teams can
make smarter decisions from the start, and its easier for everyone to agree
on what matters most. Experimentation: The missing ingredient

Another big reason product teams are feeling shaky? Theres just not enough time or encouragement to experiment. 40% of teams say they rarely get to try new things, and even among those who do, only about a third make experimentation a regular part of their process.

Even more worrying, 80% of product managers dont involve engineers in early enough to check if their ideas are actually feasible.

What does this mean in practice? Teams are making big bets without enough proof that those bets will pay off. Instead of failing fast and learning quickly, they end up investing too much time and energy in ideas that might not work, making failure even more costly.

AI can help speed up experimentation by running tests faster, analyzing results on the fly, and spotting patterns in the data that might otherwise go unnoticed. When teams have the freedom to experiment, theyre more likely to stop bad bets early to make way for the successful ones. How AI can really help

Right now, most teams use AI for the basics, like automating documentation or other routine tasks. But what they really want is for AI to help with the tough stuff: thinking strategically, planning, and making sense of complex problems.

The trouble is, many teams struggle to see how AI fits into their day-to-day work, especially when it doesnt play nicely with other tools they use.

Leaders have a big role to play here. Teams need clear guidance on how to use AI for the work that really matters. When leaders support their teams and involve them in important decisions, those teams have the space and
confidence to focus on high-impact work. Thats when product management really shines. Turning ideas into action

Product teams are in a tricky spot: they have more influence than ever, but less confidence that theyre building the right things. Time crunches, siloed teamwork, and not enough room to experiment are all chipping away at their certainty.

And while AI is often seen as the answer, most companies havent figured out how to use it in ways that truly help teams think bigger and act smarter.

AI is changing the way we work, but were still figuring out the best ways to use it. The way forward? Double down on collaboration, use AI to support strategic work, not just busywork, and keep experimenting. Thats how product teams can get their confidence back and build products that win.

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