An inside look into product leadership coaching - Kate Leto (Product Leadership Coach)
Feb 14, 2024
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Kate Leto, Executive Product Leadership Coach, discusses improving leadership, communication, conflict, and stakeholder management as a product leader. Topics include coaching strategies for managing stakeholders, examining negative thoughts and beliefs, and the challenge of transitioning from IC to manager.
Coaching tools like the Sphere of Influence model and the Cartman Drama Triangle help leaders navigate challenges, manage stakeholders, and foster a constructive team environment.
Asking powerful questions with sensitivity and avoiding 'why' questions encourages reflection, problem-solving, and personal growth.
Deep dives
Importance of Coaching Tools for Leadership Development
Coaching tools play a crucial role in helping leaders develop their leadership skills. One important tool is the Sphere of Influence model, which helps leaders identify what is within their control and influence, and what lies outside their concern. By focusing on what they can control and influence, leaders can effectively navigate challenging situations and manage stakeholders. Another useful tool is the Cartman Drama Triangle, which helps leaders navigate tension and conflict within teams. By recognizing and shifting their roles from victim to creator, rescuer to coach, and persecutor to challenger, leaders can foster a more constructive and collaborative environment. Overall, coaching tools provide leaders with practical frameworks to address challenges and develop their leadership skills.
Using Powerful Questions in Coaching Conversations
Asking powerful questions is a fundamental aspect of coaching. Some guidelines for crafting effective questions include keeping them short and open-ended. It's important to avoid using 'why' questions, as they can feel judgmental or put people on the defensive. Instead, focus on 'what,' 'when,' and 'how' questions. Questions should be asked with sensitivity and allow space for thoughtful responses. The goal is to encourage reflection and deeper thinking. Powerful questions help uncover the root challenges and facilitate personal growth and problem-solving.
Making Effective Decisions with the Water Line Model
The Water Line model is a valuable tool for decision-making. Inspired by Gore-Tex, it categorizes decisions as either 'above the water line,' which are reversible and low risk, or 'below the water line,' which may have serious consequences. Leaders can use this model to assess the potential impact and consider what additional information or guidance may be needed before making a decision. The focus is on de-risking below-water-line decisions by gathering more data or seeking input from relevant stakeholders. The Water Line model promotes thoughtful and informed decision-making.
Adopting a Coaching Culture
Creating a coaching culture starts by practicing coaching skills and communicating your intention to your team and peers. It's essential to emphasize that coaching is a way of equipping individuals to develop themselves, rather than simply providing answers or directives. Initially, it's recommended to keep coaching sessions separate from other conversations, such as one-on-one meetings, until both parties feel comfortable. As coaching skills develop, they can naturally integrate into various interactions. Building a coaching culture takes time and practice, with an emphasis on fostering curiosity, humility, and a continuous desire to learn.
This week on the podcast, Kate Leto, Executive Product Leadership Coach, makes a return to the Product Experience spotlight. Join us as she shares insights on improving leadership, communication, conflict, and stakeholder management as a product leader.
Featured Links: Follow Kate on LinkedIn | Kate's website | Sign up for the 'Essential Coaching Skills for Product Leaders'course with Kate in March 2024 | 'Understanding the Circles of Influence, Concern, and Control'feature by Anna Katharina Schaffner | 'About the Drama Triangle - and how to escape it'piece at Listening Partnership
Our Hosts Lily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She’s currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She’s worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.
Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury’s. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group’s Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He’s the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager’s Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon’s music stores in the US & UK.
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