Roadmap sessions: Show what you've done

Don’t just show what’s coming. Show what you’ve done.

Most roadmap sessions focus entirely on the future - what’s planned for the next few quarters.

But this isn’t only a time to look forward. I’ve been starting with a quick recap of what shipped recently, and the impact it drove.

Why this works:

• It builds credibility - you’re not just making promises, you’re showing a track record

• It creates context - upcoming priorities make more sense when stakeholders see what you learned from recent launches

• It reminds people that you deliver - this can be easy to forget in organisations where attention jumps to the next thing

You only need one slide and a couple of minutes. “Here’s what we shipped last month, here’s the impact we’re seeing.” Then go to the roadmap as usual.

By showing what you recently shipped, you’re starting on a solid footing. You’re showing you know what you’re doing, which is a solid introduction if you’re about to share a bunch of new things.

Plus, you’re also being transparent about things that didn’t ship - which may be controversial, but it keeps you honest.

It’s a small change, but it shifts the tone of the whole conversation.

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