Back in 2012, I stumbled onto Objectives and Key Results not as a corporate mandate, but as a […]
Why Use Personal OKRs
How to Use GenAI with OKRs (Without Letting It Think for You)
There’s a dangerous temptation with AI right now: outsourcing your thinking. Don’t. Your brain is still your most […]
When (and When Not) to Use AI in Digital Product Development
In Co-Intelligence, Ethan Mollick points out that we often turn to AI for a first draft to escape […]
From Jobs to Careers to a Calling
There was a time when I thought I’d be a painter. I went to art school, spent hours […]
Manage your Life Like You Manage a Product: Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exit—and Reflect
“Life doesn’t follow a straight path” is a cliché, but as my mama always says, “They’re called truisms […]
Decoupling OKRs: It’s Time to Let Go
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are supposed to make everything faster, clearer, and more focused. And when you’re […]
Building a Strategy: Answering the Five Essential Questions
When it comes to building a successful strategy, start with clarity around your mission and vision. Your mission […]
The Importance of Giving Feedback Early: Don’t Let Resentment Fester
Giving feedback can be uncomfortable. But holding back and letting small frustrations simmer is far worse. When we […]
Getting Started with Outcome Thinking
One of the biggest challenges people face when adopting OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is shifting from output […]
Switcheroo for Practicing Difficult Conversations
A great role-playing exercise for practicing difficult conversations is The Switcheroo, which helps participants step into different perspectives […]
Why We Struggle to Get Things Done: Common Pitfalls
We all have things we want to achieve—whether it’s personal goals like getting fit or professional milestones like […]
Building a Product Management Class
When I set out to create a course on product management three years ago, I knew it would […]
Five Effective Ways to Quiet a Room After a Workshop Exercise
Getting a room of workshop participants or students to settle down after a lively exercise can be tricky. […]
The Easiest Way to Start Working with OKRs
If you’ve ever found yourself knee-deep in a project and wondering, “What the hell are we really trying […]
What You Want isn’t Always What You Want
I was sitting on a patio with two of my dearest friends, polishing off a second bottle of […]
The Product Journey and the Product Portfolio
A product’s journey from inception to decline involves several distinct phases. Understanding these phases is crucial for anyone […]
Fast Ways to Estimate Capacity
Estimating the capacity of your organization or team quickly is crucial for setting realistic goals and effectively planning […]
Understanding Organizational Capacity: Why It Matters in OKR Practice
Setting goals is crucial for any organization, and one effective method for doing this is through OKRs (Objectives […]
Building an Instinct for Metrics
In any organization, informed decision-making relies heavily on the use of analytics. Analytics is the systematic analysis of […]
Why We Struggle to Prioritize
Why We Struggle to Prioritize: Insights from My Work Prioritization is one of the most challenging tasks we […]
Setting Personal OKRs
Life happens. It’s easy to get swept away by our myriad responsibilities and lose sight of our personal […]
Pre-Work for Setting OKRs
Pre-Work for Setting OKRs: Building a Foundation for Success Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) offer a proven framework […]
Harnessing Confidence Ratings for Effective OKRs
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are like a compass for organizations, helping teams align around clear objectives and […]
Using Temporal Landmarks for Effective OKRs Adoption
Anyone familiar with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) knows that the heartbeat of this framework is its cadence—how […]
Cialdini’s Influence: The Secret to Achieving OKRs
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are a powerful framework for achieving strategic goals. In practice, it can be […]
The effect of goal setting on group performance: A meta-analysis
Introduction to Something New! This blog is 24 years old, and I’ve done many things with it. I’ve […]
Beyond Indecision: The Psychological Forces Shaping Our Choices
Achieving peak productivity hinges on focus, a theme central to “Radical Focus.” However, making informed decisions, essential for […]
Crafting Personal OKRs for Real Change
In the quest for personal growth and improvement, setting Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) can be a transformative […]
Closing Open Loops for Better Personal OKRs
In the whirlwind of our daily lives, it’s easy to feel swamped by endless tasks and commitments. Between […]
Psychological Safety in the Classroom
This is from a talk I gave in the weekly faculty meeting. Feel free to use and share […]