How to coach product people

A simple yet effective approach to getting started with the coaching of your product team

“Coaching is what turns ordinary people into extraordinary product teams.” Marty Cagan “EMPOWERED”

I have started my coaching practice back in my consulting years when I was experimenting with discovery techniques with clients. It worked for clients and for the consulting firm, so naturally, they wanted to scale the practices. The company had asked me to start a coaching program for anyone who wanted to learn how to run discoveries effectively.

The coaching program attracted people from engineering, design, and project management with experience ranging from a few to 10+ years. The group had practiced skills and learned from each other.

I have seen firsthand how coaching helped teams to be smarter and more confident in applying product management techniques.

A few years ago, I have realized that I have outgrown the consulting role, and it was time for me to join a product company in-house as a product manager.

As I have acclimated to product teams, I have found opportunities to introduce coaching as an essential tool to grow the company successfully as new people join.

Coaching interactions had provided time and space for people to understand how the company operates and how they can contribute to future growth by developing skills and competencies needed.