All Things Product with Teresa and Petra

Discover the pivotal role of curation in shaping product decisions and strategies. Explore how avoiding the ‘Homer Simpson car’ helps maintain quality in fast-paced development. Learn about the importance of defining your ideal customer and tailoring products to meet specific needs. Hear insights on balancing personal branding with audience expectations. The discussion highlights how personal experiences can guide content relevance and the powerful impact of intentional curation in user experience.

The hosts share vibrant summer plans filled with outdoor excitement and sunshine. They reflect on the joys of the season, fostering an upbeat atmosphere. Listeners can expect a brief hiatus with a playful promise to return refreshed on September 2nd. It's a light-hearted conversation celebrating summer adventures!

Discover why going straight to the source is essential for a true understanding of product concepts. The discussion highlights the pitfalls of relying on secondhand information. Learn how to spot reputable sources and avoid red flags in your research. Real-world examples of frameworks like OKRs and the Jobs to Be Done theory illustrate the importance of original thought. Additionally, tips for curating your own learning journey emphasize the value of diverse perspectives and practitioners' insights in an age muddled by social media.

What We Cover: The explosion of product coaches — and why it's harder than ever to choose one Red flags: overpromising results, one-size-fits-all approaches, lack of relevant experience Green flags: coaching mindset, relevant product and coaching experience, transparency in approach How to assess if a coach is a good fit for your domain, stage, and style Why the best coaches won’t tell you what to do — and what they should be doing instead The difference between coaching and training (and when to look for each) Chemistry calls: what to ask and how to spot misalignment early Why coaches need to have had coaching too Key Takeaways: Great coaches help you develop your own thinking — they don’t just hand you answers. Look for relevant domain and coaching experience — not just a shiny title. A good coach puts you in the driver’s seat and meets you where you are. Fit > credentials: coaching is personal, and chemistry matters more than a certificate. Resources & Links: Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com Mentioned in this episode: Our previous episode on Types of Product Coaches Product Discovery Training and Product Discovery Courses by Teresa Torres Product Leadership Coach by Petra Wille Petra’s blog with coaching success stories The Prosperous Coach by Rich Litvin (briefly discussed — and gently critiqued)

Discover how funding dynamics impact project discovery work, and why CFOs are rethinking traditional funding methods. Explore the advantages of funding teams instead of individual projects, enhancing accountability and adaptability. Learn how product teams can effectively communicate their value to finance, bridging the gap between both worlds. With insights on aligning financial and product goals, the conversation encourages a shift towards performance-driven team funding that supports sustainable growth. Finally, uncover the necessity for clear language when discussing ROI in the product landscape.

The hosts explore the innovative Product Leadership Wheel, a self-assessment tool that aids product leaders in personal growth. They discuss the three critical buckets of product leadership: People, Product, and Ways of Working. Overwhelm in leadership is tackled with practical strategies to manage it. The conversation emphasizes the risks of splitting leadership roles too soon and shares insights on empowering teams without relinquishing authority. Plus, listeners get an exclusive sneak peek into Petra's upcoming email course for aspiring product leaders!

Discover how AI prototyping tools are transforming product development, making it faster and more interactive. Learn why understanding engineering is still crucial, even in a no-code landscape. The discussion highlights common pitfalls and the importance of teamwork in building effective prototypes. You’ll also hear about the role of iterative testing and the surprising value of even failed prototypes. Get ready to rethink what it means to prototype and test assumptions efficiently!

Key Topics Covered: What product ops is not—and why the role is often misunderstood Different models of product ops across organizations Product ops vs. product leadership: where’s the line? When to hire a product ops person (and when not to) The enabling team model from Team Topologies Why Teresa and Petra are wary of “methodology police” in discovery How product ops can support skill building, analytics, and communication standards The shipyard metaphor: keeping the environment healthy for empowered teams Coaching as a product ops responsibility—helpful or risky? Key Takeaways: Product ops isn't a checklist hire—it’s a strategic move to fill specific gaps The best product ops folks blend a product mindset with another core strength (e.g. analytics, L&D, change management) Not all gaps should be filled by product ops—sometimes it’s about enabling HR, data, or leadership to step up Product ops is a great career path for senior PMs who don’t want to move - into people leadership but still want to shape the organization Resources & Links: Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com Mentioned in the episode: Product Operations by Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles Strong Product People and Strong Product Communities by Petra Wille Learning and development (L&D) Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais Petra’s Coaching Cards (DIY Edition) / Purchase the DIY kit Petra’s related blog posts on leading effective one-on-ones: - Struggling to Find the Time to Develop Your Product Managers? Start Here, - The Ultimate Coaching Question: What Are You Going to Do Differently?, and - The Product Leader’s Guide to Giving Feedback A note from Petra: “In case people own my first book, 'Strong Product People, ' these chapters talk about 1:1s and coaching: Chapter 6: Identifying and Closing Product Manager Gaps, Chapter 7: The Power of Coaching, Chapter 8: Monitoring Performance and Giving Feedback (a good read for one-on-one prep), Chapter 10: Building Individual and Team Alignment, and Chapter 11: How to Find the Time? (especially helpful for busy leaders)."

Discover why not every outcome needs to be measurable right away, and how focusing on unmeasurable goals can drive innovation. Explore the transformative journey of shifting from applications to meaningful hires. Delve into the HEART framework for measuring customer happiness and learn the nuances between metrics, signals, and goals. Understand how to define outcomes in early stages and why creating value moments is crucial for effective product strategy. Plus, uncover common misconceptions about achieving product-market fit.

Topics Covered The Trend That Sparked This Episode: Petra flags a shift she’s noticing: more folks joining communities asking, “What can I get?” instead of, “How can I help?” Why Communities Matter: The unexpected long-term benefits of engaging in a community—and how the payoff often comes years down the road. The Origin Story of Petra & Teresa’s Connection: A short, enthusiastic conference interaction leads to years of collaboration and friendship. What Giving Actually Looks Like: The difference between offering value and unsolicited advice. (Spoiler: one builds trust, the other breaks it.) Behind the Scenes of Conferences & Course Communities: How Petra and Teresa handle entitlement, scholarship requests, and volunteering—and why the approach matters. Online Community Behavior: From Slack spamming to thoughtful sharing: how to show up well in digital spaces. Choosing Where to Engage: Why less is more when it comes to online communities—and how to pick the right ones for deeper involvement. Mentorship, Giving at Any Level, and the Power of Small Gestures: Even a thank-you note or recipe can go a long way. Giving isn’t transactional—it's relational. Key Takeaways Give before you ask. Community thrives when people contribute without - expecting immediate returns. Quality > quantity. You don’t need to be everywhere—just pick a few communities and show up consistently. A little effort goes a long way. Whether it's sharing your learnings or offering to help, even small contributions can lead to big connections. Be mindful of timing and tone. Offering value is great—unless it’s delivered like a sales pitch or advice no one asked for. Communities remember generosity. Years later, people still remember who offered help, not who just wanted the mic. Resources & Links: Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com Mentioned in this episode: Meetup ProductTank Slack LinkedIn Mind the Product San Francisco 2019 Petra’s Coaching Cards Petra’s Books Teresa’s Book Barry O’Reilly’s book, Unlearn: Let Go of Past Success to Achieve Extraordinary Results Teresa’s Product Discovery Courses Teresa’s CDH Membership Community Lenny’s Newsletter Slack Community