eggshells

Walking on Eggshells means being extremely cautious in one’s actions or words, usually to avoid upsetting someone else. Avoiding conflict becomes more important than improving the product. In product design, walking on eggshells means that problems are discussed privately instead of openly, feedback gets softened, and research findings are carefully worded so nobody feels implicated. And that feature requested by the executive? Everyone knows it is questionable but nobody wants to be the person who says so. The team is still communicating - it just isn't saying what it really thinks.