Coaching: Assess · Core
Agree the mandate, sponsor and goals
Building product capability changes how people work, so it needs a clear mandate and a senior sponsor. Agree what success looks like before you start.
About 1-3 daysEvergreenLast reviewed 5 November 2026
Who this applies to
- Skills it builds
- Leadership and coachingCommunication and influence
- 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 down why the organisation wants to improve product practice.
- Name a senior sponsor who will back the work.
- Agree two or three goals, such as faster decisions or better outcomes.
- Agree the scope: which teams and roles.
- Share the mandate on one page.
Intermediate (1 to 4 years)
- Link the goals to business outcomes, not just training numbers.
- Agree how much time people can give to the change.
- Agree how progress will be reported.
Experienced (5+ years)
- Align the mandate with company strategy and leadership priorities.
- Secure budget and people for the work.
- Set expectations that change takes time.
Who can do this
Owner: Product manager
Can be delegated to
- People / HR partner: Advise on people and HR implications
Reviewed by: Senior leader / sponsor
Tool examples
- Confluence
- Publish the mandate as the first page of the programme.
- Notion
- Keep the mandate and goals in one place.
Definition of done
- Sponsor named
- Goals agreed
- Scope agreed
Common pitfalls
- No sponsor
- Goals measured only by attendance
- Scope that is too big to start