Ben on OKRs

This is the first in a series of episodes featuring "Real OKR Implementation" stories. Many organizations adopt OKRs because they want focus, alignment, and execution discipline. But small and fast-growing companies face a unique challenge: They must move quickly They cannot afford bureaucracy They cannot rely on heavy process Yet they still need clarity and coordination GoNoodle, a company focuse...

Are you suffering from OKR planning fatigue? Are you feeling like you're always behind? Before 2019, most teams set OKRs each quarter by default. That's just how it's done. But is that what's best for you? One of the most practical decisions in any OKR implementation is determining the length of the OKR cycle. Should it be quarterly, four months or longer? Ben explains why cycle timing matters and...

Why do OKRs in the first place? You MUST be clear on the answer to this question BEFORE deploying OKRs. Do you know YOUR answer? And it should not be just because "Google does it" or "My CEO read a book and she loved it so now we're all doing OKRs" The Benefits include 5 General Ones: 1-Shorter Cadence 2-Focus 3-Transparency/Alignment 4-Engagement 5-Stretch Thinking + 2 More that Ben has identifie...

Are your KRs stretch? Are they commitments? Are you using Radical Focus? Measure What Matters? Ben's Stretch-Target-Commit model? Are you not even sure what approach you are taking? You need to know how key results are scored and how progress is tracked during the OKR cycle. Without a STANDARD, clear approach, teams can misjudge success, create confusion, or miss early warning signs that execution...

How Many OKRs Should You Set? And Should You Include an Internal Objective? One of the most practical questions in any OKR implementation is simple: How many OKRs should we set? Too many, and focus is lost. Too few, and important priorities may be missed. In this episode, Ben Lamorte explains why the modern OKR approach favors fewer, more focused objectives. And he introduces the mantra “less is m...

At What Level Should You Set OKRs? Company, Team, or Individual One of the most important decisions in any OKR deployment is where OKRs should be set. Should you start at the company level? Roll out to teams immediately? Require individual OKRs? Get this wrong, and even well-designed OKRs can fail. Your decision to this question can dramatically impact the type of culture you're creating.   In thi...

You get the context for why Ben created "10 universal deployment parameters" (the questions you must answer BEFORE deploying OKRs) as context for the next 10 episodes! Ben shares a pivotal moment early in his OKRs coaching journey, a training workshop in Paris that did not go as planned. What seemed like a straightforward workshop quickly turned into hours of debate about alignment, KPIs, performa...

Ineffective vs. Effective Use of AI in OKRs Many teams are using AI to automate the drafting of OKRs in order to “save time.” But what if this shortcut is causing you to miss the most valuable part of the OKR process: the conversations that create clarity, ownership, and commitment? In this episode, Ben explains why simply using AI to write OKRs can weaken your strategy and execution. You’ll hear...

What Is OKRs Coaching? Why Is It So Important Now? In this episode, Ben explores the rising global demand for OKRs coaching and explains why the 2020s are a pivotal time to develop this skill. You’ll learn what OKRs coaching really is, and how it differs from traditional consulting along with the critical balance between inquiry and advice that defines effective coaching. Ben walks through the evo...