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  • Product Engineer to CEO: Sten Pittet, A Thinkydoers Career Profile

    Product Engineer to CEO: Sten Pittet, A Thinkydoers Career Profile
    2024/09/11
    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: Sten’s journey from software development in France to becoming a CEO in Australia.Role of OKRs in shaping Sten’s approach to product management and leadership.Some of the differences between the role of product leadership in large and smalller or start-up companies.Importance of stakeholder management and involving others in decision-making.Creation and mission of Tability, inspired by practical experience with OKRs.Emphasis on creativity in software development and product engineering.Learning to involve stakeholders and build collective alignment and collaboration.Sten’s advice on focusing on people and conversations over perfection. Common Questions: What is the difference between working in product at a smaller company and being in product at a larger company? In smaller companies, you have more direct user interaction and creativity, while larger companies require more stakeholder management and strategic alignment. What are OKRs and how did they influence Sten’s work? OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a goal-setting framework that helped Sten and his teams stay focused and aligned. What led Sten to start Tability? His practical experience with OKRs and the desire to create a product that helps teams achieve their goals more effectively. Notable Quotes from Sten Pittet: “When a company is bigger, for you to change direction, it’s like it’s a big ship. And so if we decide to turn left, you’re moving a lot of people out of what they’re doing.” “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.” “I think what’s good about the world is that you have like really different types of people.” “Don’t try to be perfect. One mistake that I see people doing—trying to have a perfect cascading, perfect set of forecasts, perfect everything.” “For me, OKRs and our platform, the way we see ourselves is we want to enable the right conversations.” Sten’s Links and Resources Tability WebsiteSten Pettit on LinkedIn Sara's Links and Resources The No-BS OKRs Workbook, currently available as a PDF download from https://findrc.co/pdfworkbook (USD) or https://findrc.co/pdfwkbkAUD (AUD)Join the Launch Squad for Sara's Upcoming Books: You Are A Strategist and the No-BS OKRs WorkbookJoin Sara's Email NewsletterEmail Sara at hello@redcurrantco.comDownload: No-BS OKRs In A Box one sheetVirtual OKR Consult: Start your personalized virtual OKR consultOther Free No-BS OKRs Resources: Access all free resourcesThinkydoers (not-just-an OKR podcast) Home Page
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    26 分
  • OKR Expert Interview: Sten Pittet Turns the Tables on Sara To Talk No-BS OKRs

    OKR Expert Interview: Sten Pittet Turns the Tables on Sara To Talk No-BS OKRs
    2024/09/03
    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 Sara’s Journey with OKRs: From an individual contributor struggling with unclear expectations to an executive leader and consultant, Sara shares how setting measurable goals transformed her work satisfaction and effectiveness.Challenges with OKRs: Discussion of why OKRs can be challenging to implement, particularly when leaders do not model the practice.No-BS OKRs Approach: Sara explains her “No-BS OKRs” approach, focusing on simplicity and practicality, and the development of her No-BS OKRs Workbook.Upcoming Book: “You Are A Strategist” Sara talks about her upcoming book, which aims to help individuals discover their inner strategist and use OKRs as a tool for career success. Common Questions What are OKRs? OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a goal-setting framework that helps organizations align their efforts and measure progress.Why are OKRs challenging to implement? OKRs can be challenging because there is no single "standard" or set of "rules" for implementing them; and also, when leaders do not model the practice or invest time in learning the framework.What is the No-BS OKRs approach? A pragmatic approach to OKRs that focuses on simplicity, efficiency, and usefulness to facilitate learning and improvement toward higher performance.How can OKRs benefit my career? OKRs help fill information gaps so you can spend less time mind-reading and more time focused on what's most important. They also help teams align work to important goals, and provide a shared definition of success for teams to aim for. Notable Quotes “My whole life as an individual contributor was trying to learn how to read minds because I just, I don’t know if some people can figure out what’s expected or if some people are less sensitive to that. And so they just kind of work to their inner compass, but I really struggled to understand what was expected.” - Sara Lobkovich, Creator, No-BS OKRs “I fundamentally believe that every person listening to this podcast is a potential future CEO. That’s just how I approach everyone I work with.” - Sara Lobkovich, Creator, No-BS OKRs “OKRs sometimes get brought in by the people just like Agile, you know, just like Scrum. And so sometimes the methodology comes in within the organization, but a lot of times OKRs come in through the C-suite or come in through the executives with a model of ‘I want more performance from our team.’” - Sara Lobkovich, Creator, No-BS OKRs “When we have leaders that model those behaviors, that’s when implementations tend to be really successful, because then that’s when people in the organization see this is beneficial for me because it fills in my information gaps. It makes it easier for me to align my work to what’s important. I can be more successful.” - Sara Lobkovich, Creator, No-BS OKRs “I wanted [The No-BS OKRs Workbook] to be a simple, useful way for anyone, even if they’ve never heard of an OKR before, to sit down and have support and scaffolding to walk through the steps of OKR creation for the first time.” - Sara Lobkovich, Creator, No-BS OKRs “I know I am my best when I am telling the absolute truth, when I get to just call it...
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    32 分
  • Self-Leadership for Individual Contributors, with Sally Ivester

    Self-Leadership for Individual Contributors, with Sally Ivester
    2024/08/28
    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 Introduction to Sally Ivester: Sally’s background and her focus on supporting early-career professionals.Managing Up: Redefining the concept of managing up without masking or changing who you are.Communicating Boundaries: The importance of setting and communicating personal boundaries at work.Working Loudly: How to effectively showcase your work and contributions.Feedback and Growth: Embracing feedback and the concept of “B+ is the new A+.”Personal Operating Model: How to create and share your personal operating model to set clear expectations. Common Questions What is managing up?: Managing up involves thinking ahead and aligning with your manager’s expectations without compromising your authenticity.How can I communicate my boundaries at work?: Proactively share your personal operating model, including your preferred communication methods and working hours.What does working loudly mean?: Working loudly means actively communicating your contributions and achievements to ensure they are recognized.How should I handle feedback?: Embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth and aim for continuous improvement rather than perfection. Notable Quotes from Guest Sally Ivester “Managing up isn’t about being pleasing; it’s about thinking ahead and aligning with your leader.”“B+ is the new A+. Embrace feedback and aim for continuous improvement.”“Working loudly means ensuring your contributions are recognized and valued.” Sally's Links and Resources A free copy of Sally's usually paid-only product, her Project Tracker The Career Starter Pack Checklist The Ambitious Employee's Playbook to Corporate Success, Sally's Maven Course Sally Ivester's Website for Your First Corporate Job YourFirstCorporateJob on TikTok Sally Ivester on LinkedIn Sara's Links and Resources Strategic Achievement Score Quiz: findrc.co/stratscoreEmail Sara at hello@redcurrantco.comJoin the Launch Squad for Sara's Upcoming Books: You Are A Strategist and the No-BS OKRs WorkbookDownload: No-BS OKRs In A Box one sheetVirtual Consult: Start your personalized virtual consultOther Free Resources: Access all free resources OKR Self-Assessment: Get your No-BS OKR Self-Assessment Strengths (and Growth Opportunities)WTF are OKRs guide Thinkydoers (not-just-an OKR podcast) Home Page
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    30 分
  • Cracking the OKR Code: A virtual consultation with an OKR Coach

    Cracking the OKR Code: A virtual consultation with an OKR Coach
    2024/08/20
    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 What are OKRs?: Understanding the basics of Objectives and Key Results. Virtual Consultation Simulation: Sara simulates a consultation, explaining her methods and answering common questions. Top-Level OKRs: Starting with senior leaders to establish best practices. Senior Leadership Onboarding: Ensuring leaders can model OKR behaviors. Organization-Wide Communication: Sharing OKRs with the entire organization. Localization/Scale Phase: Adapting OKRs to different organizational levels. Common Questions: Implementation: How to start or reboot OKRs. Localization: How to cascade OKRs through the organization. Integration with Personal Goals: Aligning OKRs with individual performance management and incentive systems. Notable Quotes “OKRs are a goal-setting framework used to increase focus, clarity, and alignment within organizations.” “We start with those top-level OKRs with the senior-most leader so that we can establish what the best practice is going to look like for the rest of the organization.” “The localization approach that I use with clients is a little bit different. We establish those awesome best practice top-line goals at the top of the organization, and then we do a first level localization to the functional orgs that report into the top-level.” Links and Resources Download: No-BS OKRs In A Box one sheet Virtual Consult: Start your personalized virtual consult Free Resources: Access all free resources Get your No-BS OKR Self-Assessment Strengths (and Growth Opportunities) Strategic achievement scorecard quiz (in beta) WTF are OKRs guide
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    21 分
  • News Recap: "You Are A Strategist" Book Cover Reveal, Free OKR Coaching, and No-BS OKR Coach Training!

    News Recap: "You Are A Strategist" Book Cover Reveal, Free OKR Coaching, and No-BS OKR Coach Training!
    2024/07/31

    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:

    • Book Reveals: Sara announces the cover reveal of her two books, emphasizing the practicality of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" and the strategic depth of "You Are A Strategist"
    • Not Sure You're a Strategist? Think Again!: A few quick thoughts on the importance of strategic thinking in today's fast-paced business environment, and an invitation to reflect on your own strategic capabilities
    • Live OKR Coaching: Sara shares her experience hosting a LinkedIn Live session, offering free OKR coaching, and invites listeners to participate in future sessions
    • Coaching Course: Details are provided about the upcoming "Coaching No-BS OKRs" course, designed for those looking to enhance their OKR coaching skills
    • Gratitude and Acknowledgements: Sara expresses gratitude for the support received during her book-writing process and teases future interview episodes for the podcast.

    Call to Action:

    • Book Pre-Launch: Join the pre-launch crew for Sara's books at findrc.co/yaas
    • LinkedIn Live: Follow Sara on LinkedIn for updates on live OKR coaching sessions at linkedin.com/in/SaraLobkovich
    • Coaching Course Registration: Apply for the upcoming "Coaching No-BS OKRs" course at findrc.co/okrcoachtraining
    • Podcast Participation: If you're interested in being a guest on Thinkydoers, use the link in the show notes to express your interest: Thinkydoers Podcast Guest Application

    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
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    13 分
  • How to Suck Less As A Manager, with Ben Arendt

    How to Suck Less As A Manager, with Ben Arendt
    2024/07/17
    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: An overview of Ben’s fascinating career journey and how it led him to write this book. The self-awareness and continuous self-improvement required to be a better manager. How listening to and learning from others can help you develop intellectual humility. Why difficult conversations with diverse groups of people are key to a leader’s success. Three types of activities managers need to do to improve their craft. Practical advice for those who are dealing with managers that suck. Why Sara coaches that “productive struggling” may be a learning step, but sufferring at work is not acceptable. Ben's basic toolkit for better communication skills. Strength in vulnerability: why leaders should embrace emotional transparency. Why you should probably never be the smartest person in the room as a manager or leader. Pro tips for leaders and aspiring leaders who are neurodivergent or "wired differently." Major setbacks that helped to propel Ben forward in his career. Three key similarities between OKRs and being a better manager. 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 Ben Arendt on LinkedIn Bed Arendt Email Depth Charge Consulting Sara Lobkovich Sara Lobkovich on Instagram Sarah Lobkovich Email Sara Lobkovich on Mastadon Red Currant Collective Sign up for RedCurrantCo’s Newsletter Red Currant Collective on Instagram Become a guest on Thinkydoers Thinkydoers Podcast Home
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    37 分
  • Real People, Real Stories: OKR Coach and Specialist Jason Johnston (Part 2)

    Real People, Real Stories: OKR Coach and Specialist Jason Johnston (Part 2)
    2024/07/09

    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:

    • How to check out the new No-BS OKR Self-Assessment tool.
    • What Jason considers to be his greatest professional accomplishment.
    • The biggest learnings that have propelled him forward.
    • Navigating setbacks and how to have a learning-focused career.
    • Lessons for making OKR work sustainable, including recharging outside of work.
    • How taking meaningful breaks can help you reconnect with your intrinsic motivation.
    • Sara and Jason’s mutual love for LEGO!
    • How having the mentality of a four-year-old benefits Jason’s well-being.
    • Jason’s top book recommendations.

    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:

    • Genetec
    • Jason Johnston on LinkedIn
    • Red Currant No-BS OKR Self-Assessment Tool
    • Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal
    • Sara Lobkovich
    • Sara Lobkovich Email Address
    • Sara Lobkovich on Mastadon
    • Red Currant Collective
    • Sign up for RedCurrant’s newsletter
    • Red Currant Collective on Instagram
    • Thinkydoers
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    19 分
  • Meet an OKR Coach: Jason Johnston (Part One)

    Meet an OKR Coach: Jason Johnston (Part One)
    2024/07/02
    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: A quick update: How to check out the new No-BS OKR Self-Assessment tool. Insight into Jason’s role as the OKR Practice Lead at Genetec. Why he’s a self-described servant leader and why that’s often the case for OKR practitioners. How he first started working with OKRs and got his company to create a position for him. Driving change within a company by leading others rather than doing the work for them. Jason’s unique career background and what initially attracted him to the practice of OKRs. Lessons on heroism and preparation from his military career (and how it relates to OKRs). The adaptive nature of Jason’s work environment: how it has facilitated his career transitions. How the No-BS OKR class changed Jason’s approach to OKRs and made it more intuitive. The biggest challenges Jason has seen when it comes to implementing OKRs. Using leadership to help people shift from a task-oriented to an outcome-oriented mindset. Why existing metrics aren’t always adequate for measuring outcomes and leading indicators. Key aspects of OKRs that have made a difference in Jason’s life and work. How continuous learning and service leadership among OKR practitioners foster positivity. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Genetec Jason Johnston on LinkedIn Red Currant No-BS OKR Self-Assessment Tool Measure What Matters Christina Wodke & Radical Focus Sara LobkovichSara Lobkovich Email AddressSara Lobkovich on MastadonRed Currant CollectiveSign up for RedCurrant’s newsletterRed Currant Collective on Instagram Thinkydoers 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]
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    38 分