Focus on Problems, not Solutions
- Simon Oliver Ommundsen
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
We've all been there—sitting in a product meeting where someone says, "We need to add this feature!" before anyone's even asked why users need it. Feature-first thinking is tempting (and common), but it's also a fantastic way to build stuff nobody actually wants.
When Solutions Come Before Problems
Features are cool! They're tangible, they look great on roadmaps, and they give everyone a clear picture of what they're building. However, when we jump straight to features (or solutions), we often end up solving problems that don't exist—or worse, missing the real issues entirely.
Common feature-first mistakes include:
Building that dashboard nobody ever looks at
Adding filters nobody uses because they don't match how users think
Creating "time-saving" workflows that actually add more clicks
Launching that integration that only 0.5% of customers requested
Problem Discovery Before Solution Design
The most successful products start with a deep understanding of user problems. When you nail the problem first, solutions become obvious (and effective).
This means developing a genuine curiosity about what's actually tripping up your users—not just what features your competitors have or what your sales team is asking for.
Always ask why
One powerful technique is painfully simple: keep asking "why?" like a persistent five-year-old until you hit the root cause.
For example:
Users want a custom dashboard (why?)
Because they can't find key information quickly (why?)
Because the default views don't match their workflow (why?)
Because they're using the product differently than we expected (why?)
Because they're trying to solve a problem we didn't anticipate
Suddenly, instead of building yet another dashboard, you're rethinking how information is organized throughout your product.
Getting Your Team Onboard with Problem-First Thinking
The hardest part is often getting your team to slow down and align around problems before jumping to solutions. This requires:
Making problem statements visible in planning sessions
Creating space for research before roadmapping
Celebrating problem discoveries as much as feature launches
Building shared understanding before building features
Pilea Helps You Focus On What Customers Need
Pilea automatically collects and categorizes all your incoming feedback—such as support tickets, micro-surveys, and recorded interviews—into a single, consolidated view. Instead of presenting quick-fix ideas, Pilea highlights user problems.
By guiding you through these underlying needs (rather than possible solutions), Pilea makes it easy to see what issues are most pressing and impactful for your users, helping you prioritize where to focus your efforts and ensure real, value-driven product improvements.
Better Products, Happier Users
When you consistently start with problems rather than features, something magical happens: you build less but deliver more value. Your codebase stays leaner, your product becomes more intuitive, and your users actually notice (and appreciate) each new release.
Stop spinning your wheels building features nobody asked for. Start digging into the real problems your users face—and watch how quickly the right solutions emerge!
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