book.chapter Guiding the team

Coaching is a critical component in the development of a successful product team, yet it is often undervalued in the tech industry where the focus tends to be on technical skills. Bill Campbell highlighted the distinction between mentors and coaches, emphasizing that coaches play an active role in helping team members realize their potential by providing a reflective mirror, identifying blind spots, and ensuring accountability. An effective coaching mindset prioritizes the development of team members above all else. Coaches should invest time in identifying competency gaps and crafting personalized development plans, as well as working closely with team members to foster improvement. Empowering the team to own their outcomes, rather than just completing tasks, cultivates engagement and a sense of responsibility for the results. This approach encourages a missionary mindset as opposed to a dispassionate mercenary attitude. Coaches must also be self-aware, recognizing their own insecurities that may hinder the empowerment of others. Humility is necessary for coaches to celebrate the successes of their team without feeling threatened. Additionally, coaches should value diverse perspectives and ideas, understanding that they do not have a monopoly on good solutions. They should also leverage teaching moments, particularly during challenging times, to promote growth. When necessary, coaches must act decisively to correct team members if success seems unattainable despite coaching efforts. In practice, effective coaching involves a thorough evaluation of team members to pinpoint competency gaps and then implementing plans to address these gaps, which span product knowledge, processes, interpersonal skills, and responsibilities. A robust coaching plan includes regular one-on-one meetings, ideally 30 minutes each week, to provide direct development support to team members. These meetings should be based on mutual trust and respect, enabling the coachee to be receptive to candid feedback and motivated to reach their potential. Consistency in these sessions is crucial, and they should end with clearly defined actionable steps and assignments. Coaches should also remember to praise in public but offer critique in private. A written vision narrative can provide strategic context, helping team members understand the corporate mission, customer needs, and their role in meeting those needs. Encouraging a sense of ownership and autonomy enables team members to approach problems with a problem-solver's mindset. Guidance on time management can help the team prioritize innovation over administrative tasks. Training should focus on applying knowledge to solve real customer problems, not just on information acquisition. Developing collaboration skills is essential, both within the team and across the broader stakeholder ecosystem. Instilling customer-centricity is about caring for and innovating based on customer needs. Coaches should also educate on integrity and ethical decision-making, as these traits are crucial for making sound choices when empowered. Additionally, teaching how to conduct productive meetings can improve team communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. In sum, coaching is not just about improving skills but about transforming the mindset and approach of team members to foster a successful and innovative product development team.