Coaching: Assess · Core
Interview PMs, leaders and partner teams
Before changing anything, find out how product work really happens. Talk to PMs, their managers and the teams they work with.
About 5-10 daysEvergreenLast reviewed 5 November 2026
Who this applies to
- Skills it builds
- Discovery and researchLeadership and coaching
- PM types
- All
- Product types
- All
- Starting points
- All
- Ways of working
- All
- Experience
- All
- Size of organisation
- All
Steps, by experience
Beginner (under 1 year)
- Write a short interview guide with open questions.
- Interview a mix of PMs, leaders, designers and engineers.
- Ask about recent real examples, not general opinions.
- Take notes and look for common themes.
- Share the themes without naming people.
Intermediate (1 to 4 years)
- Include partner teams such as sales, support and finance.
- Probe for the causes behind common complaints.
- Test early themes with a second round of conversations.
Experienced (5+ years)
- Interview senior leaders about their expectations of product.
- Spot differences between what leaders say and what teams experience.
- Use the themes to build support for change.
Who can do this
Owner: Product manager
Can be delegated to
- User Researcher: Help design the guide and analyse themes
Tool examples
- Miro
- Group interview notes into themes.
- Google Docs
- Keep the interview guide and notes together.
Definition of done
- At least eight people interviewed across roles
- Themes written up
- Themes shared anonymously
Common pitfalls
- Only talking to PMs
- Asking leading questions
- Naming people in the findings