Coaching Designers and PMs to Use Research More Effectively

Philip Burgess
2 days ago
3 min read

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

Using research effectively can transform how designers and product managers (PMs) make decisions. Yet, many teams struggle to integrate research into their daily workflows. I’ve seen firsthand how coaching can bridge this gap, helping teams not only understand research but also apply it in ways that improve products and user experiences.

In this post, I’ll share practical strategies I’ve used to coach designers and PMs to get more value from research. These approaches focus on building habits, fostering collaboration, and making research a natural part of the product process.

Eye-level view of a designer and product manager discussing user research notes on a whiteboard — Designer and PM collaborating on research insights

Understanding the Challenges Teams Face

Before coaching, I always start by identifying why research isn’t being used effectively. Common challenges include:

Research insights feel too abstract or disconnected from daily tasks.
Teams receive research late, after key decisions are made.
Designers and PMs lack confidence in interpreting research data.
Communication gaps between researchers and product teams.

For example, I worked with a product team that often ignored user feedback because they found reports too long and full of jargon. The designers felt overwhelmed, and PMs didn’t see how research could help prioritize features.

Recognizing these pain points helps tailor coaching to the team’s specific needs.

Building Research Habits Through Coaching

One of the most effective ways to improve research use is to build simple, repeatable habits. I encourage teams to:

Start meetings with a research insight: Begin sprint planning or design reviews by sharing a relevant user finding. This keeps research top of mind.
Create quick research summaries: Teach designers and PMs to write brief, clear summaries of research reports. This makes insights easier to digest.
Ask research-driven questions: Encourage the team to frame problems and ideas based on user needs and data, not assumptions.

In one coaching session, I introduced a “research moment” at the start of every team meeting. Over a few weeks, this habit helped the team shift their mindset. They began to ask, “What does the research say about this?” before making decisions.

Encouraging Collaboration Between Designers, PMs, and Researchers

Research becomes more useful when teams work closely with researchers. I coach teams to:

Involve researchers early in the product cycle.
Invite researchers to design critiques and planning sessions.
Use collaborative tools to share research findings in real time.

For example, a PM I coached started inviting the user researcher to weekly check-ins. This allowed the PM to clarify findings and get advice on how to apply insights. Designers also began requesting quick user feedback during prototyping, speeding up iteration.

This collaboration breaks down silos and makes research a shared responsibility.

Close-up view of a user researcher presenting findings to a small product team around a table — User researcher sharing insights with product team

Making Research Actionable and Relevant

Research can feel overwhelming if it’s not directly tied to decisions. I help teams translate findings into clear actions by:

Mapping insights to specific product goals or features.
Prioritizing research based on impact and feasibility.
Creating visual tools like journey maps or personas that designers and PMs can reference easily.

For instance, I worked with a team that struggled to prioritize features. We created a simple matrix linking user pain points from research to potential features. This visual helped the team focus on what mattered most to users and justify decisions with data.

Coaching Through Real Projects

The best coaching happens in the flow of work. I join teams during real projects to:

Observe how they use research.
Provide immediate feedback.
Model how to ask research questions and interpret data.

This hands-on approach builds confidence and shows the practical value of research. One designer I coached said, “Seeing how to connect research to my sketches made me rethink my whole process.”