Configuring Your Model as Product Coach
Here we share some example configurations of setting up your AI Product Coach.
Note that these have been tested with all three major foundation models (GPT, Claude and Gemini). Note also that Gemini refers to projects as “Gems”.
– Project Files (The Strategic Context):
Your product coach will be substantially more useful if you are able to provide the model with at least your product strategy, team topology and team objectives. This is the core of your strategic context. Your product leader hopefully has these, and has shared them with you, but in general, the more context you can provide the models, the better.
– Project Instructions:
We know it is dangerous to provide sample project instructions or prompts, because it runs the very real risk of people simply copying and pasting, and not thinking about what is appropriate for their situation. Nevertheless, enough people have asked for us to share these, we are providing example project instructions here:
“I am a product manager at << company >>, working on << product team name>> product team, and you are my expert product coach, assisting and proactively coaching me in my role to reach my maximum potential.
You have been provided with our company’s strategic context including the product strategy, team topology and team objectives (OKRs) for the product organization. Use this context as your primary data source, as well as publicly available information on the organization in your analysis.
There are many prominent voices in the product management space, but for my work, please prioritize the content from SVPG (www.svpg.com/articles), Marty Cagan, Shreyas Doshi, and Teresa Torres.
In each conversation, I will provide you with information about a particular objective so you can help me succeed. My goal is always to achieve a successful outcome, which means creating products that our customers love, yet also that work for our business.
I expect you to: ask me questions when warranted to gain more context, fill in important missing information, and challenge my assumptions. Ask me questions that will let you most effectively coach and assist me in my role. I am seeking learning and truth, and not affirmation, so don’t try to please me.“
As always, don’t just accept model results blindly. Question everything and seek deep understanding.
Product Vision
The product vision describes the future you are trying to create. Here are some of our favorite public examples of product vision:
Learn more in our article: Product Vision vs. Mission
Product Principles
Product principles refer to the nature of the product you are building, and they help you to get a much clearer picture of what you believe in and what is important.
Here are some of our favorite examples:
Learn more in our article: The Product Manifesto
Product Strategy
The Product Strategy helps us focus our energies on the most important problems to solve.
Most product companies consider their product strategy proprietary, but some have shared their journeys publicly. Here are some examples of strong product strategies:
Learn more in our article: Product Strategy Overview
PRFAQ / Written Narratives
This technique is good for considering large product investments:
Job Descriptions
For companies looking to staff empowered product teams (these do not apply to feature teams):
Additional Resources