Ep 34: Why You Shouldn't Start with an OKR Tool (Yet)

Thinking about implementing OKRs? Your first instinct might be to shop for an OKR tool - but that could be setting yourself up for failure. In this candid Thinkydoers Short, strategy coach Sara Lobkovich explains why starting with software often backfires, and shares a proven alternative with a methodology-focused approach that will set your organization up for long-term OKR success.

Episode Highlights:

• Common pitfalls of taking a tool-first approach to OKR implementation
• Why methodology must come before software
• How to track OKRs effectively without specialized tools
• A practical timeline for OKR implementation that sets you up for success
• Signs that your organization is actually ready for an OKR tool

Key Takeaways:

• Tools alone don't solve the core challenges of implementing OKRs
• Start with company-level OKRs and establish strong methodology before scaling
• Simple tracking methods like spreadsheets can work well in early stages
• Let organizational demand drive tool adoption rather than forcing it
• Focus on behavior change and culture shifts before investing in software

Notable Quotes:

“ People need an OKR process that isn't yucky. If it's yucky, then they're going to do all sorts of work for a process that might generate a pretty dashboard for the leaders. But we want people to love our OKR implementations. We want people -- not just leaders -- to see the benefit of OKR implementations.”

"We want to focus on Objectives and Key Results as continuous learning, and we want to keep our tools and ops simple."

"We let folks struggle until they're suffering with the lack of software, and then that makes our software adoption so much more successful."

"What's ultimately most important is that leaders need objective information to make decisions."

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts

00:11 About Your Host, Sara Lobkovich

01:12 Today's Topic: OKR Platforms

02:10 Common Pitfalls in OKR Implementations

04:07 The Executive Excitement and Initial Challenges

05:25 The Role of OKR Platforms

07:10 The Downside of Platform-First Approach

15:05 Methodology-First Approach to OKRs

21:41 Tracking OKRs Without a Platform

30:06 Conclusion and Resources

Resources Mentioned:

• Get the No-BS OKRs Workbook ($19): https://saralobkovich.com/no-bs-okrs-workbook-pdf
• Info about the upcoming print version of the No-BS OKRs Workbook & Sara's forthcoming book: "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS Objectives and Key Results to Get Big Things Done" is available at https://youareastrategist.com 
• Other Free No-BS OKRs Resources: Access all free resources
• Thinkydoers (not-just-an OKR podcast) Home Page: https://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod

Connect with Sara:

• Newsletter: findrc.co/newsletter
• Contact: findrc.co/contact
• Email Sara at [email protected]
• Social Media: @saralobkovich most everywhere!