Training vs. Coaching

What’s the difference between product training and product coaching—and why does it matter? In this episode, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres unpack a topic that comes up all the time in product orgs: when do individuals and teams need structured training, and when is it time to bring in a coach? They walk through the core differences, share frameworks to help you decide what kind of support your team actually needs, and explore the skill-building journey from reading a book to mastering advanced discovery practices. Whether you’re an individual contributor trying to sharpen your discovery skills or a product leader wondering how to support your team, this episode breaks it all down with clarity and real-world examples. Tune in to learn: ✅ Why this conversation matters: Coaching is trendy, but is it always the right tool? ✅ Defining the difference between knowledge (training) and capability (skill-building) ✅ The role of flipped classrooms and experiential learning in product training ✅ Petra’s take on when coaching becomes valuable (hint: it’s not step one) ✅ Teresa’s 3 learning stages: concept, practice, and applying in context ✅ Why training is often a better starting point than coaching ✅ The case for community of practice as a “training alternative” ✅ When coaching really shines: dealing with org-specific or context-heavy challenges ✅ Coaching as a shortcut for product leaders (and the gap in leadership training) ✅ How coaching and training can work together — especially in scaled orgs ✅ Teresa’s flipped classroom model in practice (what it looks like in her courses) ✅ What makes a great product coach (hint: it’s not just experience at big-name companies) ✅ 7,500+ product coaches on LinkedIn?! A teaser for an upcoming episode on how to choose one

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