Explore every episode of the podcast Thinkydoers®
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Ep 32 - Executing Under Pressure: High Stakes, High Performance, With Pro Racer and Firefighter Jayson Uribe | 12 Nov 2024 | 00:33:03 | |
What does it take to perform at the absolute limit, every time you show up to work? How do you navigate your own chemisty, and both objective and perceived risk when lives are actually on the line? Find out in this conversation with professional motorcycle road racer, firefighter, and business owner, Jayson Uribe. Jay and I work together in our moto lives -- he's one of the pro riders that I really enjoy working with in my capacity as a team principal for CW Moto Racing. In addition to being a very skilled, highly capable and accomplished rider in a sport where the rider is ultimately the one who goes out there and twists the throttle, Jayson's life and career have given him a unique perspective on teamwork that makes him truly fun to work with. He's also a talented development rider: his ability to give us technical information about his experience on track not only makes it possible for us to improve the bike for him; it also helps us improve our equipment for all of our riders. Jayson agreed to join me for a peek inside his brain, to hear more about his experiences with balancing technical precision and emotional awareness in high-stakes environments. From his morning pre-race routines to his approach to failure and risk management, what he's learned about performing under pressure applies far beyond the racetrack or firehouse. Whether you're facing challenging decisions in your own work, managing teams through high-pressure situations, or simply curious about the psychology of peak performance, you'll find valuable insights in this conversation about what it really takes to execute at the highest level when it matters most. Episode Highlights:
Key Concepts Explored:
Notable Quotes: "[High performance] is just perfect execution of fundamentals under stress. And the more perfect the execution, the better the outcome will be." "The best races are the ones you don't remember. When you're riding the bike you're almost so focused that everything else is a blur." "Being able to remove the emotional side of things... you got to lock into the moment of what you are there to do." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast 00:56 Current Events and Connecting with Listeners 04:05 Deep Dive: Jayson Uribe's Multifaceted Career 06:51 Balancing Emotions and Technical Precision 11:32 Goal-Setting and Performance Mindset 19:28 Lessons from Racing and Firefighting Guest Information: Jayson Uribe is a professional motorcycle racer with both international and U.S. national career experience. He currently races in MotoAmerica, the U.S. national road racing series (and, with us -- CW Moto, during the off-season in the CVMA series in California). He is also a firefighter, and founder of Code Three Consultations, specializing in automotive forensics and investigations. Jayson's Contact Info:
Sara's Links & Resources:
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| Ep 31 - Speed, Strategy, and Staying Unblocked: Leadership Lessons from Pro Motorsports & Beyond | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:45:17 | |
What can business leaders learn from the high-stakes world of professional motorsports? Find out, in this conversation between Thinkydoers host Sara Lobkovich (whose "other life" is in professional motorcycle road racing) and organizational change expert Jurriaan Kamer, co-author of "Formula X: How to Reach Extreme Acceleration in Your Organization" and his new release, "Unblock: Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization." We cover a lot of ground here -- from how pro racing teams approaches to goal clarity, mistake recovery, and rhythmic learning can transform your leadership practice, to creating blame-free cultures, and mastering the art of strategic alignment. In this lively and engaging conversation, you'll discover how racing's high-performance, high-stakes principles can accelerate your business performance—whether you're a motorsports fan or not. Episode Highlights:
Notable Quotes: "Failure avoidance is more dangerous than failure recovery." - Jurriaan Kamer "If you look at Formula 1 teams [...] execution is not 99% of the thing. They understand that everything they do is an opportunity to reflect and improve. These meetings, these rituals, are built into their cadence. It's not something somebody has to plan - it's just part of how they operate." - Jurriaan Kamer "If you try to convince a group of people, the first thing you need to do is not tell them why you think you're right, but ask them what they think is going to go wrong. And then you can start to build conviction together." - Jurriaan Kamer "We have to take a systemic perspective when things go wrong... As an outsider, you think 'Oh, this person needs to be fired, because they blew the chances of a victory.' Which is just very short-term focused because [mistakes] will repeat [themselves] if you don't understand all the factors that were at play." - Jurriaan Kamer Guest Information: Jurriaan Kamer is an organizational change expert based in the Netherlands and author of "Formula X: How to Reach Extreme Acceleration in Your Organization" and "Unblock." Drawing from his unique access to professional car-racing teams and extensive experience with self-managing organizations, he helps leaders worldwide create high-performing, adaptable organizations. Jurriaan's Resources Mentioned:
Sara's Links and Resources:
Find full show notes and the episode transcript via https://findrc.co/thinkydoers ! | |||
| Self-Leadership for Individual Contributors, with Sally Ivester | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:30:15 | |
Are you an early- or mid-career individual contributor, curious about how to showcase your contributions and gain the recognition your work deserves? This week's guest, Sally Ivester, brings us a fresh perspective on architecting your own career successfulness -- without trying to be someone you're not. Sally is a chief of staff in big tech who had a career-transforming experience when she downshifted her approach to career before the birth of her daughter. She joins us this week to share her perspectives on making the shift to playing your career on "easy mode" for those of us more used to playing our careers on "hard mode." We talk about the subject I personally love to hate: managing up. We also discuss the importance of proactively setting and communicating boundaries, and Sally's approaches to navigating feedback and what she calls "working loudly," (including a very introvert-friendly way to do so in writing). This short episode packs a punch of career development, for listeners who are looking to upskill at playing the corporate game (without masking or playing politics in ways that don't suit you). Sally was also very generous in sharing resources with us -- check out the links below! Do you have a question or topic you'd like to see me tackle either as a solo episode or with a guest? I'm all ears. Visit the Thinkydoers home page and contact me there, or, point your guest suggestions my way! Episode Highlights
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| Cracking the OKR Code: A virtual consultation with an OKR Coach | 20 Aug 2024 | 00:21:20 | |
I know the first meeting with an Objectives and Key Results coach can be intimidating. Last week, I started building a virtual consult experience through my website and other technologies, because I know a lot of people want to learn more about working with an Objectives and Key Results coach or working with new ways of strategic planning and not everybody wants to schedule a meeting right away. Ultimately, this expereince will allow you to do a self-guided virtual consultation. I recorded a video to support that and then thought, well, this is actually great information for a podcast episode, too. Here, you’ll find answers to the three questions I’m asked in almost every consult I do with a prospect, and get a huge head start on your confidence when seeking support from an OKR coach or other OKR professional. So, give it a listen! I can't wait to hear your questions, and if you'd like a personalized virtual consult, visit findrc.co/virtcon, and that'll take you to my coaching portal where you can complete an intake form that kicks off your personalized virtual consult. As you're listening, jot down your thoughts about what questions you think I should answer in a virtual consult, and then send them my way. I'd love to address them either in my Frequently Asked Questions or in future versions of this virtual consult. I hope you enjoy the episode, and again, I can't wait to hear your questions. This episode is packed with practical advice and answers to common questions about OKR coaching and implementation. Episode Highlights
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| News Recap: "You Are A Strategist" Book Cover Reveal, Free OKR Coaching, and No-BS OKR Coach Training! | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:13:23 | |
In this Thinkydoers short, I'm sharing a few exciting updates from Red Currant Collective. For one, we just revealed the covers for my two upcoming books: the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" and "You Are A Strategist: Use No-BS Objectives and Key Results to Get Big Things Done." The Workbook, set to print in Q3, provides essential tools for creating effective OKRs quickly, while "You Are A Strategist" is a playbook for change-makers to connect strategy with goal-exceeding implementation and will fast-follow the Workbook's release -- all in time to help with your year-end reset! Highlights:
Call to Action:
Closing Thoughts: Sara encourages listeners to focus on their important goals and looks forward to sharing more insights in the next episode. For more information, or to pitch a guest appearance on this podcast, please visit: https://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod | |||
| How to Suck Less As A Manager, with Ben Arendt | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:37:25 | |
Want to suck less as a manager? Or, do you work with a manager who sucks? Either way, you are NOT alone. Many managers struggle to become good at the difficult job of management: whether it stems from insufficient self-awareness, ineffective communication skills, or a lack of necessary tools, Ben Arendt believes that all managers have a responsibility to improve themselves for the benefit of their careers and the teams they lead. Ben is Principal Consultant at Depth Charge Consulting and author of the recently-released book: How to Suck Less as a Manager: A Practical Guide to Making Your Team Less Miserable Today! In this episode, you’ll learn practical strategies that managers can take right now to better understand, communicate with, and support their teams. Ben highlights the far-reaching impact of leadership and management, we discuss the importance of intellectual humility and the role that vulnerability plays in leadership, as well as his some tips for managing yourself when your manager sucks. We also take a side trip into why we both believe leaders should increase their awareness around skills for working with diverse teams and disabled team members, and a few insights on leading and being led while neurodivergent. From fostering a positive work environment to driving team performance, this conversation is full of valuable insights that can transform your leadership approach today. Ready to take the first step towards becoming a more effective and inspiring manager? You're in the right place.
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes:
“If you don't care, you don't deserve to be here [in management]. If you're not willing to listen to other people, you're probably going to do a bad job.” — Ben Arendt [09:50]
“Communication, as sophisticated as it is, is imperfect. There are a lot of things that we as managers – can do better, both to help people be [motivated and engaged], but also get them the things that they want so that their careers improve down the line.” — Ben Arendt [15:50]
“There are a lot of people that should not be in leadership [who] have become managers because that was just the next step in their career.” — Ben Arendt [18:38]
“Getting a diversity of thought and perspective is not value signaling. It's an imperative.” — Ben Arendt [24:18]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: How to Suck Less as a Manager, on Amazon How to Suck Less as a Manager website Sign up for RedCurrantCo’s Newsletter Red Currant Collective on Instagram
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| Real People, Real Stories: OKR Coach and Specialist Jason Johnston (Part 2) | 09 Jul 2024 | 00:19:15 | |
How do you find balance as a Thinkydoer with a busy, curious, learning-focused brain? Today, we explore this question (and more) as I continue my insightful conversation with Jason Johnston, OKR Practice Lead at Genetec. (If you missed Part 1, pop back to Episode 17 and then come back here after.) Tuning in, you’ll discover some of the most profound lessons from Jason’s unique and varied career. From facing a career-altering setback J.J. considers his "greatest professional accomplishment," to finding new paths forward, his journey demonstrates the importance of adaptability and continuous learning. Join us as we explore how personal passions outside of work--whether it's building LEGO, climbing mountains, or repairing antique typewriters -- can recharge our professional lives, and why disconnecting and taking proper breaks is essential for reconnecting with our intrinsic motivation. Don't miss this enriching conversation as we dive deep into the human side of leadership! Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes: “It is a failure, [but] I think the success comes [from] realizing that I didn't have control over it, and it's not my fault. Why should I let this get me down? You’ve got to keep going. You’ve got to keep moving.” — Jason Johnston [05:52] “It's about cutting yourself off completely [and] giving your brain time to think and do something else.” — Jason Johnston [08:38] “Take what it is that you love, disconnect, and go do it. Make it big, whatever it is. Make it big. Make it worth a four-year-old's mentality.” — Jason Johnston [12:14]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
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| Meet an OKR Coach: Jason Johnston (Part One) | 02 Jul 2024 | 00:37:41 | |
Establishing clear objectives and key results (OKRs) isn't just about direction and accountability. It’s about driving real change within organizations. Today’s episode kicks off our two-part conversation with the delightful Jason Johnston, OKR Practice Lead for Genetec, a technology company in the security products and solutions space. Jason is also a veteran whose 20-year military career has given him a unique perspective on leadership and problem-solving. Join us as Jason shares his insights on fostering an environment where OKRs can thrive, the challenges of shifting from a task-oriented to an outcome-oriented mindset, and the critical role of leadership in guiding teams. We also explore how positive reinforcement and diverse perspectives on outcomes can drive success and why so many OKR practitioners exemplify servant leadership. Tune in to discover practical tips and inspiring stories from Jason’s journey, and learn how to navigate the complexities of OKRs in your own work environment! Key Points From This Episode:
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Quotes: “I consider myself a servant-leader, that’s how I function and how I act. I get my success from others succeeding. I don’t get my success from me succeeding.” — Jason Johnston [07:35] “If we want to create real change in anything we’re doing, especially in the companies we’re in, somebody has to drive it.” — Jason Johnston [14:03] “The No-BS OKRs class really kind of changed the way I look at OKRs and [made] it more intuitive.” — Jason Johnston [22:28] “We have to put as much emphasis on the things that we accomplish as well as the things we don’t accomplish. And the process built around that is important.” — Jason Johnston [37:02] | |||
| Creating Leading Indicators in High-Stakes Settings with Elena Chopyak | 21 May 2024 | 00:30:44 | |
One of the most challenging things for people to wrap their heads around when learning to create No-BS OKRs is the power of progress key results, otherwise known as leading indicators. But leading indicators serve as critical data that may give you objective data on which to assess your progress, and, to inform decisionmaking. Today’s guest is Elena Chopyak, a self-professed "data nerd," who I met through our mutual friend Rachel. When Rachel introduced Elena to me as an expert in leading indicators, I couldn't schedule a coffee talk fast enough. That coffee talk turned into an invitation back for this podcast episode. Aside from Elena's wiring for data and analysis, her career history also follows the Thinkydoer pattern: a winding, multidisciplinary path included interest in working outside the U.S., and curiosity in the emergency humanitarian space, which ultimately lead her to working with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Iraq for two years. She was brought on in a monitoring and evaluation role in child protection and education, where she became responsible for instrumenting, monitoring, and reporting on important indicators to assess impact; and then moved into a role in IRC's emergency response team that was focused both on monitoring and informing decisions about natural disaster and armed conflict responses (as well as deploying, herself). In this episode, you’ll hear about Elena's experiences and learnings working with leading indicators in high-stakes settings, tips for creating leading indicators that are useful and actionable, and, more about her self-described "squiggly" career. Also: the No-BS OKRs Workbook is live; we're getting ready to launch our No-BS OKRs Self-Assessment Tool; and the best way to keep track of what's happening with Thinkydoers and No-BS OKRs is to join our mailing list! Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes: “It’s important not to wait until something is a full-blown emergency and has made it to the news – One of our responsibilities is to be prepared – That’s why [leading indicators are] so important.” — Elena Chopyak [11:25] “We don’t create leading indicators so that we have pretty numbers on a dashboard in any setting. We create leading indicators because we’re going to use them to inform a decision.” — @saralobkovich [15:50] “It comes back to thinking about the why. Why are you going to collect this [data]? Who is going to look at it? Who is using it? – Who is actually going to make any actionable change based on the data you’re collecting?” — Elena Chopyak [20:33] “If you have a squiggly career, just know there are people who appreciate that. There are people who themselves have linear careers and don’t understand you. That’s fine, but there are those people out there who will appreciate your varied background.” — Elena Chopyak [27:22] | |||
| Prepare for Q2 with Sara Lobkovich and No-BS OKRs | 13 Mar 2024 | 00:08:56 | |
Are you ready to create big, bold goals for Q2 and beyond, and achieve remarkable results? In this Thinkydoers Short, I'm sharing a slew of resources to help you get ready for Q2 -- whether you have a budget or not, and whether you are excited to get visionary and curious and plan your Q2, or are hoping to spend as little time as humanly possible, so you can get right to achieving your goals! Show Topics:
Let’s set your Q2 goals up for inspiration, progress, and success! Tune in, subscribe, share with a friend or colleague, and let’s keep the conversation going! 🚀 Reach out if you have any questions: hello@redcurrantco.com. | |||
| Stress and Resilience with Dat Tran | 05 Dec 2023 | 00:38:30 | |
The long-term stress sustained during and since the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a serious impact on our collective wellbeing. The American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress in America” report this year shared that “APA psychologists widely agreed there is mounting evidence that our society is experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma.” In our personal and professional lives – especially for those of us who possess an “overthinky” brain -- we’re experiencing high levels of stress, overwhelm, and burnout. To help us understand these issues (and what we can do to resolve them), we’re joined by Dat Tran, an inspiring leadership coach and speaker (and fellow Thinkydoer). After more than a decade in the consulting and global strategy world, Dat discovered that the path to realizing his purpose focuses on inclusion and resilience. Today, he empowers leaders and organizations to reach their peak potential with well-being as a central focus. Since taking the stage for the first time in 2022, he has delivered over 50 keynotes and workshops, reaching thousands of people at leading companies and organizations worldwide. In this episode, Dat offers insight into the relationship between stress and resilience, provides us with a practical framework for managing stress, and shares some easy-to-understand examples to help us understand the risks of burying or processing stress without releasing it. To transform how you manage stress in your everyday life, become more resilient, and propel yourself toward higher performance and wellness, tune in today. Key Points From This Episode:
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| OKRs in Context: Do OKRs co-exist with other methodologies? | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:24:13 | |
One of the first jobs to be done when implementing (or rebooting) OKRs is to identify how they fit into an organization’s existing planning “stack” and get clear about what job they’re being hired to do. This episode is based on chapter three of Sara Lobkovich’s upcoming book, The Evolutionary OKRs Playbook, which focuses on what is possible with Evolutionary OKRs®. You’ll be introduced to the first of three models that Sara uses every day in her work with organizations implementing OKRs: the Connected Strategic® Implementation Stack. You’ll learn about each layer of this stack, how it applies to individual projects and initiatives, why some organizations may struggle with OKRs, and why you don’t necessarily need to have every element in the stack present to be successful. Today’s episode offers you a chance to reflect on your organization's Strategic Stack, what elements might be most important to prioritize to increase shared meaning and understanding, and what elements you might want to consider adding to increase your organization’s strategic alignment and impact. Be sure to stay tuned for future episodes on the other two models: Connected Strategy on a Page and OKR Maturity! Key Points From This Episode:
Also: don't miss out -- No BS OKRs Annual Reset Edition registration closes on November 5th, so if you'd like help with your 2023 retrospective and 2024 OKR creation, join us for this practical, applied, OKR creation workshop: http://findrc.co/nobsokrs | |||
| Ep 30 - Getting Unstuck: Don't Go It Alone (Part 2 with Dr. Sherlonda Adkins) | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:18:27 | |
Feeling stuck but unsure how to get help? You're not alone - and this episode is for you. In part two of my powerful conversation with Dr. Sherlonda Adkins, we explore why the journey to getting unstuck shouldn't be a solo endeavor. Learn why it takes most people 10 years to seek professional help, how to find the right therapist (and what to do if your first try isn't a fit), and practical strategies for getting the support you need. Whether you're considering therapy for the first time or looking to rebuild trust after a difficult experience, this episode offers candid insights and actionable guidance for taking that crucial first step. Episode Highlights:
Common Questions:
Notable Quotes: "It's never too late to start. I've worked with patients in their seventies, and my biggest heartbreak is for people to leave this earth without experiencing joy—being stuck and not seeing what it could have looked like." - Dr. Adkins "The average length of time that it takes for someone to actually seek professional help is about 10 years." - Dr. Adkins "Before you can actually trust someone, you got to feel comfortable." - Dr. Adkins Resources Mentioned:
Sara's Links and Resources:
Find full show notes and the episode transcript via https://findrc.co/thinkydoers ! | |||
| Playbook Chapter Two - What are Objectives and Key Results OKRs | 29 Aug 2023 | 00:25:21 | |
We're excited to share Chapter Two of our work-in-progress Evolutionary OKRs Playbook with you. This chapter re-introduces Objectives and Key Results for people who may be less familiar with traditional approaches, and then shifts into the unique elements of the Evolutionary OKR model (which we've developed specifically to aid innovative and transformative organizations and teams in setting and achieving bigger, bolder goals). I also share a bit more about what we mean when we talk about the Evolutionary Organization. I share the actual definition that I use for the terms "Objective" and "Key Result," and I cut to the chase and provide the most essential question each of those terms answers in our businesses, and the building-block-formulas I use to help make sure we're creating useful, usable Objectives AND Key Results every time. If you'd like to receive each chapter before it goes live on the podcast, join our email list: http://redcurrantco.com/newsletter
Key Points from this Episode:
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| The Evolutionary OKRs Playbook Chapter One: How did we get here? | 15 Aug 2023 | 00:16:23 | |
After years of writing alone and then sharing my work on the Evolutionary OKRs Playbook with (wonderful, patient) beta readers, with this rewrite I’m doing something different. It’s time to write (and read) in public. Certain chapters of the book are being shared via our email newsletter first; then after a week or two, some will be shared via the Red Currant Collective Blog, via Medium, and here, as Thinkydoers podcast episodes. As terrifying as this is for me personally, it’s time. The final rewrite is buzzing along, I’ve got a target date for the v1 eBook release if I keep up at this writing and editing pace, and it’s necessary to get this thing out so it can help the people who need it. So here in this episode, I’m sharing the first full chapter, Chapter One: Objectives and Key Results: How did we get here? And if you don't want to wait for the public release of each chapter, you can get the early peek by joining our newsletter at http://findrc.co/newsletter. Show notes are available at thinkydoers.com and you can read the first chapter via the Evolutionary OKRs Blog on redcurrantco.com.
Key Points From This Episode: • My excitement to bring you chapter one of Sara’s Evolutionary OKRs Playbook. • The resources that we’re planning on offering for the rest of the year and in 2024. • How many of us stumble into OKRs • Why I'm an emphatic OKR activist. • A sneak peek for next week: why should you adopt a glossary of OKR terms at the very beginning of implementation. Quotes: “Incoherence is my kryptonite.” — @saralobkovich [08:22] “The transparency with which I'll share my approaches, tools, and tactics, as well as the why behind them in this book may just put my consulting business out of business.” — @saralobkovich [10:16] “I hope that at some point you take a step back from the day-to-day labor of your work and think a bit about what changed world you'd like to see someday. What difference would you like to make? How would you like to leave your community, career, or self better than you find it now?” — @saralobkovich [10:37] | |||
| When "OKRs Don't Work" | 13 Jun 2023 | 00:25:59 | |
Fun fact: While I am an OKR activist, I'm not an OKR dogmatist. If OKRs "aren't working" in your organization, I'll be the first to support your decision to change course to an approach that works better for your organization. Frequently, though, I see organizations reach a stage where they're frustrated with their OKR implementation -- and the time of year I see the "OKRs aren't working" phase kick in is at mid-year, when we're looking at our annual company strategic plans or OKRs that may have been set six or seven months ago and questioning: "What's the value of OKRs, if they've become this off course?" I'm having these conversations with a number of clients right now, so if you're a client and you think this episode is about you, what you're experiencing may be part of what inspired this episode, but this episode is not about you -- it's about a lot of you. 😂 Many teams reach this stage and then overfocus on what's not working in our OKR operations: with tracking, reporting, and our OKR software or systems. What's most valuable when your organization reaches this stage is to take advantage of having six months worth of data for us to assess our progress thanks to our Objectives and Key Results, AND, examine and apply our half-year of learnings during our mid-year reset, to improve our Objectives and Key Results, our OKR behaviors, AND our OKR operations instead of abandoning them. If the job we've hired OKRs to do is to increase our clarity and objectivity about what shared progress and success mean -- which is the highest and best use of OKRs -- then when organizations reach the "OKRs aren't working" phase, we have a chance to take a good hard look at our OKRs themselves, and, our behaviors. One of the most common issues I see in this phase is that teams are not yet letting OKRs do that job they were hired to do: they may still be stuck in task & activity quicksand, and have not yet taken the step into aligning on actual objective measures of progress and success. If that's the case, it's not that your OKRs aren't working: it's that you're not yet using OKRs! This episode is timely: many of us are navigating our mid-year resets and struggling with frustration; here, I share a few areas of focus you can consider to infuse your OKR reset with new energy and optimism, to help you refresh your Objectives and Key Results to help your organization finish the year strong! Full show notes and links are available at http://thinkydoers.com and http://redcurrantco.com. Does this spark questions or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you. Contact me via http://thinkydoers.com ! | |||
| KPIs vs. OKRs: What's the difference between KPIs and Key Results? | 16 May 2023 | 00:18:10 | |
What's the difference between a KPI and an OKR? And specifically, what's the difference between a KPI and a Key Result? Here's a simple answer, with examples, to help make this concept easy to understand. You’ll find out what defines KPIs, KRs, stretch goals, and commits, what they mean, how they impact businesses, and how they overlap. We discuss the problems caused by confusing these terms, which can lead to damaged trust, safety, and a reduction in employee engagement. We even use Sara’s personal health and well-being KPIs and KRs as an example to help you understand the differences! So, to hear all about KPIs and KRs and to be reminded of the importance of using clear language, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode:
For more information on any of the above, find me at http://redcurrantco.com or email hello@redcurrantco.com. Show notes and transcript are available at http://thinkydoers.com . | |||
| Introducing Evolutionary OKRs | 08 Mar 2023 | 00:22:49 | |
Today, we take a step back and answer the obvious question: what are Evolutionary Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and why are they important? OKRs are a method for setting collaborative, objectively measurable goals made popular by the book Measure What Matters, which creates enormous excitement about the potential of OKRs, but leaves many teams and leaders frustrating trying to figure out how to implement them. This episode introduces the Red Currant Collective brand of OKRs: Evolutionary OKRs. Evolutionary OKRs are designed to create meaningful change and help organizations transform and actually do better. Tuning in, you’ll hear about how OKRs started and how they became widely used before we break down the differences between Evolutionary OKRs and other forms of planning. You’ll learn more about the characteristics of great OKRs and how they can benefit both corporate performance and individuals. We further discuss the differences between Objectives and Key Results, the qualities of strong Objectives, what we consider "Textbook Key Results," and examples of both. If you would like an introduction to OKRs to share with your colleagues, your leaders, and other stakeholders, or even just a reminder of the basics for yourself, this episode is for you! Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables: “In addition to being a collaborative goal-setting methodology, we think of OKRs as a thinking, deciding, and learning practice that helps us achieve greater growth, transformation and innovation by aligning on our most important measures of progress and success.” — @saralobkovich [0:05:36] “Evolutionary OKRs mean thinking deeply about what's important and what might be possible. Identifying which measures of progress and success help us make better decisions in our work and organizations.” — @saralobkovich [0:05:54] “OKRs let us define our own success and progress measures even when external expectations aren’t clear. They help us focus on what's most important, not only what's urgent.” — @saralobkovich [0:06:27] “Think of objectives like strategic or visionary pillars. Added together, they describe what's most important for us to make progress on so that we are moving toward achieving our strategic priorities.” — @saralobkovich [0:12:48] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
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| Architecting Change: Rethinking the role of goals in achieving necessary change | 08 Dec 2022 | 00:29:10 | |
We talk a lot around here about Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), and in this episode, we dive into an adjacent topic: the role that goal setting can play in making a case for and achieving important change in our organizations. The audio for this episode is from a LinkedIn Live that I hosted recently (if you'd like to hear about our every-other Wednesday Live gatherings, join our email list). Those Live sessions are geared toward changemaker leaders and strategic implementors within organizations who are hungry for ways to increase change effectiveness, increase employee engagement, and spend more time focused on achievement of their most important priorities. In this episode, we look at:
I also share some updates about opportunities to work with me this month to help set your 2023 up for success:
This course is for people leaders (and aspiring people leaders) who want to improve their skills with communicating expectations clearly; leading through conflict; and leading their teams for growth and high performance. This class and what we practice in it are helpful for all leaders, but we're hearing especially positive feedback from autistic participants, leaders with ADHD, and people who have cognitive impacts from trauma. The approaches we learn and practice give leaders a toolkit they can adapt to their work (and fills in a lot of blanks for many of us who have struggled to develop effective leadership and management mechanics) to reduce the cognitive overhead of leading people and help us refocus on goal achievement and leading our teams for growth. For more information on any of the above, find me at http://redcurrantco.com or email hello@redcurrantco.com. Show notes and transcript are slightly delayed, but will follow tomorrow (Friday) at http://thinkydoers.com . | |||
| Now waitlisting: No BS OKRs short course | 12 Oct 2022 | 00:08:14 | |
We're closing enrollment on Friday for next week's Coaching Evolutionary OKRs course, so if you're looking for OKR Coach training before the end of the year, act quickly (or drop me a note, and I'll let you know when we plan our next cohort). And if a short course is more your style, that's coming this November! After years of focusing on deep-dive training for leaders & teams in goal-oriented organizations, I'm VERY excited to be launching a short course on efficient Objective and Key Result (OKR) creation next month! | |||
| The Goal-ification of OKRs | 25 Aug 2022 | 00:22:01 | |
When the book Measure What Matters was published in 2018, it created a lot of excitement about Objectives and Key Results, or OKRs. Unfortunately, the book provided little practical information about implementing them, and many organizations have struggled to actually make OKRs work in the wild. Now we are seeing a rapidly growing OKR software market which is expected to reach $2.6 billion by 2023 but there is still a lot of confusion around the implementation and the potential benefits of OKRs. In today’s episode, we are going to look at what OKRs are and give you a few tips to keep in mind when you start to hear these words around your workplace – especially with the “goal-ification” of OKRs that we’re seeing with product releases including Microsoft Viva Goals and Asana Goals -- with OKRs being incorporated even into non-specialty software. OKR platforms and goal software have their place: but they aren’t required to start and operate a successful goal-setting and goal-achievement rhythm. We then go into detail about our specific definition and usage of “Key Results” in the term “Objectives and Key Results” to explain why that phrase should be treated as a term of art, as well as why Key Results – in the Connected Strategic® model – don’t typically describe activity. To find out how OKRs can help fill the gap between your company’s big outcome goals and the work you actually need to do to reach them, give this one a listen. We're getting ready to announce some big new business model shifts that will make our OKR and leadership development support more accessible for customers outside of our current large consulting model: for the sneak peek, subscribe to our Red Currant Co Newsletter at http://findrc.co . | |||
| What we can learn during the annual goals "silly season" | 05 Aug 2022 | 00:20:50 | |
This time of year is called the "silly season" in motorsports because we're in the literal middle of our racing season AND we're all already operating in the 2023 season: planning partnerships, talent moves, and logistics for the year we won't start for another six months. Every summer I see something really similar with my corporate clients who set goals annually: sometimes between mid-July and September, even IF the organization did a mid-year reset after Q2, we find ourselves looking at our annual goals, scratching our heads, and wondering, "What were we thinking?" For organizations that set goals annually in November or December of the previous year: when we set those goals, we did so based on the information we had at the time. Now, we have seven (or so) more months of information that may line up with or be dramatically different than the assumptions we set those goals based on. We know a lot more right now about what our goals for this year could or should have been. But, generally, now is not the time to "revisit" or "reset" our annual goals. In a lot of situations, it's better to stay the course, notice what we're learning about our goals while we work with them right now, and get ready for our next annual planning cycle (which is just around the corner) to improve, with what we learn during this "growing pains" phase. This episode talks about a couple of specific opportunities that you can leverage for learning right now, while we're "living with" annual goals that may feel awkward:
This awkward mid-year growing pain phase can be a source of frustration, and it can be a really valuable source of information and learning that helps us do better with our next round of annual goal-setting. Visit http://thinkydoers.com to share your thoughts about this episode, and to learn more about creating and leading Connected Strategic™ organizations. | |||
| Replacing "managing up" with a culture of self-management | 03 May 2022 | 00:28:30 | |
In our last episode, our host Sara Lobkovich took the antiquated concept of "managing up" to task. This episode is part two in this two-part series, where we dive into why and how organizations can replace "managing up" with building a culture of self-management. With norms established around expectations and goal alignment, communication, and candor and truthfulness, organizations can center their most important outcomes more effectively; manage healthy conflict to achieve necessary change; and trade inefficient spin- and politically-motivated posturing for increased comfort with difficult truths so that blockers can be tackled head-on. A culture of consistent self-management reduces cognitive overhead for workers and leaders and gives everyone in the organization a shared language and practices to help increase mutual understanding of expectations and how people can succeed, together. We'll introduce the three foundational elements of self-management:
and seven supportive factors that improve self-management effectiveness:
These skills can be learned and developed by leaders and "doers" alike. You'll hear how self-management ultimately enables everyone in the organization to do their best work: from the C-suite to the summer intern. | |||
| Feeling Stuck: Signs and Symptoms Not to Ignore (Part 1 with Dr. Sherlonda Adkins) | 22 Oct 2024 | 00:21:48 | |
Ever felt "off" but couldn't quite name it? Did it feel like you were "stuck?" What if that feeling of being "stuck" is actually trying to tell you something important? In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Sherlonda Adkins, a Physician Assistant and "Unstuck Strategist," we explore how feeling stuck can masquerade as depression, anxiety, or burnout - and why recognizing the difference matters. Whether you're questioning your career path or feeling stagnant in life, this episode offers vital insights into identifying and understanding stuckness before it impacts your wellbeing. Then join us for part two with Dr. Adkins where we'll explore practical strategies for getting unstuck and creating positive change in your life. Episode Highlights:
Common Questions:
Notable Quotes: "Sometimes people end up sitting on my couch saying 'I'm depressed,' thinking it's neurobiological changes, when in fact it's more secondary to their feeling stuck." - Dr. Adkins "Suffering is different from going through tough times - suffering means you're not accessing available relief while going through difficulties." - Dr. Adkins "Sometimes being stuck is jolting because you recognize there's a misalignment between your compass and your soul." - Dr. Adkins About Today's Guest: Dr. Sherlonda Adkins is a physician assistant and unstuck strategist based in Charleston, South Carolina. Through her telemedicine practice and coaching work, she helps people around the world create lives they don't need to escape from. Resources Mentioned:
Sara's Links and Resources
Find full show notes and the episode transcript via https://findrc.co/thinkydoers ! | |||
| The downsides of "managing up" | 19 Apr 2022 | 00:27:07 | |
This is the first in a two-part series about why we work with clients to uncover and unlearn the behavior of "managing up," and replace it with a culture of self-management. It IS necessary to carefully and intentionally manage our relationships at work (up, down, and across), but the way managing up is coached in many organizations centers leaders instead of the work itself. The practice is inefficient, inequitable, and often emphasizes spin over substance. And many people who rely on managing up to move up the ladder in their organizations find that "what got you here won't get you there" when they land in a role where you can't "manage up" your way to critical outcomes. Next week, we'll share the second part of this series about how we replace "managing up" and other political and power-based ways of leading and organizing organizations and teams with more equitable, efficient and outcome-driving self-management practices. | |||
| Are your goals for the new year on track? | 01 Feb 2022 | 00:30:17 | |
By this point in the year -- 1/3 of the way through Q1 -- many of us have already abandoned any New Years Resolutions we set -- and in our work lives, we may still be digging out from year-end, having missed a month of achievement toward our 2022 goals. We're not going to start with goal-setting today -- most of you have already done that step. Instead, we're going to learn a bit more about the types of goals you've set already, and share a few simple steps to help you get your goal achievement plan on track. I'll share a few words and meanings that are helpful for shared understanding when we're working with goals, and then share a step-by-step from Michael B. Stanier's book, "The Coaching Habit," which I find helpful for scaffolding the step we often miss: actually planning the behavior change necessary to achieve the goals we set. | |||
| Thinkydoers: From Think to Do Episode Zero | 01 Jun 2019 | 00:00:31 | |
Thinky-doers are those of us whose work spans the spaces between thought, through the messy middle, into doing. I'm a thinky-doer, and I'm here to help others create less friction, and more flow in our work. | |||
| Mindfulness for Overthinkers and Perfectionists with Dr. Alice Rizzi | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:36:54 | |
Are you an overthinker who can't seem to quiet your mind? A perfectionist struggling to find peace in a chaotic world? This episode is your lifeline. Dr. Alice Rizzi, a licensed psychologist and mindfulness coach, breaks down the myths about mindfulness and offers practical, accessible techniques that even the busiest minds can embrace. Discover how just 30 seconds a day can transform your mental landscape and why traditional meditation isn't the only path to mindfulness. Whether you've tried mindfulness before and given up, or you're completely new to the concept, this episode promises to revolutionize your approach to mental well-being. Episode Highlights:
Common Questions Addressed:
Notable Quotes: "Mindfulness is the quality of being present in this moment with awareness, acceptance, kindness, compassion, curiosity, and non-judgment." - Dr. Alice Rizzi "It's better to do 30 seconds every day than even sit for 10 minutes once a week." - Dr. Alice Rizzi "Right now, in this moment, chances are you're actually okay." - Dr. Alice Rizzi Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast 01:27 Goal Fridays: A Series for Changemakers 02:45 Meet Dr. Alice Rizzi: Mindfulness Expert 04:35 Understanding Mindfulness and Meditation 06:44 Mindfulness for High Achievers and Overthinkers 09:48 Grounding Techniques for Overthinkers 16:28 The Power of Self-Compassion and Non-Judgment 21:52 Practical Tips for Mindfulness Practice 32:11 Conclusion and Resources Key Takeaways:
Resources Mentioned:
Sara's Links and Resources:
Whether you're a seasoned mindfulness practitioner or a skeptical beginner, this episode offers fresh insights and practical tools to help you navigate life's challenges with greater ease and presence. | |||
| October Theory: Gen-Z Discovers Quarterly Planning (and the Olds can learn a thing or two) | 14 Oct 2024 | 00:14:19 | |
Is October the new January? Gen Z thinks so, and they might be onto something. In this Thinkydoers Short, I dive into the viral TikTok trend of "October Theory" and explore how it intersects with established business practices like quarterly planning and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career journey, this episode offers fresh insights on goal-setting and achievement. Episode Highlights:
Key Questions:
Notable Quotes: "Let's listen to the next generation on this one and prioritize the end of Q3 reset." "Key results are a different kind of goal... We're going to think about what would be really incredible to achieve in terms of impacts or quantifiable outcomes of our effort." "Instead of the risk of the all or nothing bad feelings that we get when we set just activity based goals, when we create key results, that's what we're pursuing... We get instantly curious, even if you're not having any progress." Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts 01:15 Discovering October Theory 02:07 Understanding October Theory and Its Impact 03:43 The Power of Key Results for Gen Z 04:06 Implementing OKRs in Business 06:21 Creating Effective Key Results 09:02 The Benefits of Key Results Over Activity Goals 12:57 Conclusion and Join the Pre-Launch List for You Are A Strategist Links and Resources:
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| Play as Mindfulness Practice with Chief Play Officer TJ Matton | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:23:23 | |
Want to incorporate more play into your world? You’re in the right place! Play isn’t just for kids. It’s a biological necessity that can transform your mental well-being and even help manage mental health symptoms like hypervigilance and anxiety. And we’re lucky to have play expert TJ Matton back for this second episode in our two-part series on play. If you haven’t already, listen to last week’s episode for fundamentals about the science of play; and here we get practically applied. How can you increase play in your life? Listen (or read on) for answers. Episode Highlights:
Common Questions:
Notable Quotes:
Guest Information: TJ Matton: Founder and Chief Play Officer of the Playful Revolution. You can find more information about TJ and her work at theplayfulrevolution.com and on Instagram at @theplayfulrevolution. Next Episode Teaser: Join us next week for a conversation with another incredible expert about stuckness and mental health. Don’t miss it! Special Offer: Are you feeling overwhelmed by conflicting priorities? Struggling to achieve the results you need in your organization or career? It’s time to unblock your inner strategist. Join my community membership program, designed for aspiring and practicing strategic operators who think differently. Right now, membership is $100 off for the full year, just in time to help with your Q3, Q4 transition and ramp up for 2025. Visit findrc.co/ubyis to learn more. Stay Connected: Thank you for joining and listening. I can’t wait to hear what resonated with you in this episode. Subscribe to our newsletter at findrc.co/newsletter to stay updated. You can find me, Sara Lobkovich, pretty much everywhere online. Feel free to contact me at sara@thinkydoers.com. If you have other Thinkydoers in your work world, please pass this episode along. We appreciate your referrals, mentions, shares, and reviews. Find full show notes and transcript at http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod. | |||
| The Science of Play with TJ Matton | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:35:49 | |
Are you ready to rethink everything you think you know about play? Want to learn more about the science of play as a powerful tool for personal growth and well-being? This week’s guest, TJ Matton, founder and chief play officer of the Playful Revolution, joins me to dive deep into the science and practice of play (especially for those of us for whom "play" may not feel like it comes naturally. TJ shares her insights as a trauma therapist and play advocate, exploring some foundational science (and neuroscience) about play, including play as a "primal drive" and essential part of learning. This episode is part one in a two part series: today, we lay the foundation of why play is important. In next week's episode, we'll continue our conversation with practical guidance for how to incorporate play into your mindfulness practices (even if you want to run the other direction when I say "play" or "mindfulness"). For complete show notes and transcript, visit http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod. Episode Highlights
Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast 00:40 Quick Promo and Upcoming Events 02:10 Exciting Episode with TJ: Play and Mindfulness 03:48 TJ's Background and Passion for Play 06:04 The Importance of Play in Our Lives 09:47 Balancing Novelty and Repetition in Play 17:44 Exploring Different Play Styles 21:19 Play as a Social and Solo Activity 29:06 Play and Vulnerability 34:37 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser Common Questions
Sara's Links and Resources
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| Product Engineer to CEO: Sten Pittet, A Thinkydoers Career Profile | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:25:36 | |
Have you ever thought about a career in product -- whether product management, product development, or product engineering? You'll enjoy this conversation with Sten Pittet, CEO of Tability. In our last episode, Sten interviewed Thinkydoers host Sara about her journey into OKRs; today, we flipped the script for Sara to interview Sten about his fascinating journey starting in software development after uni, into product engineering in a mid-size company (that became a large company during his tenure), and then the transition into the CEO and founder seat with his latest venture, Tability. For complete show notes and transcript, visit http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod. Episode Highlights:
Common Questions:
Notable Quotes from Sten Pittet:
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| OKR Expert Interview: Sten Pittet Turns the Tables on Sara To Talk No-BS OKRs | 03 Sep 2024 | 00:32:25 | |
This is a bit unconventional ... but today, the host of Thinkydoers is the guest! Please welcome Sten Pittet, Co-Founder and CEO of Tability, a collaboration platform for outcome-driven teams, as this week’s Guest Host of Thinkydoers … with OKR Coach and creator of No-BS OKRs (and Thinkydoer’s host) Sara Lobkovich in the hot seat! If you're a regular listener you might be thinking: "WTF? A platform guest?!" But hear me out. Sten is with a platform... and he's also a Thinkydoer. We've been in touch here and there for almost a year now, and when he asked during our last chat if he could interview me for a podcast episode ... I just couldn't pass up the chance to answer questions from another pro in my network. Today's episode is part one of a two-part series. Here, Sten asks me the questions he's been waiting to ask me while a recording is rolling ever since our first chat. We touch on my own journey with OKRs, including how they've shaped my career and practice, some of the challenges organizations encounter when trying to implement them, and my unique No-BS OKRs approach, which focuses in efficiency and simplicity. Sten also makes a great plug (unsolicited!) for my No-BS OKRs Workbook, which is currently available as a PDF download from https://findrc.co/pdfworkbook (USD) or https://findrc.co/pdfwkbkAUD (AUD) and will be available in print later this fall, along with my first full-length release: You Are A Strategist: Using No-BS Objectives and Key Results To Get Big Things Done. Come back next week for part two of the series, when I get to turn the tables and ask Sten about his Thinkydoer career, which took him from development into product management, and now into the CEO and founder role; and, about why and how Tability came to be. Episode Highlights
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