Thinkydoers Thinkydoers: From Think to Do by Sara Lobkovich and Red Currant Collective

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:
How Elena ended up in the nonprofit space working on leading indicators. What drew her to the data and analytics side of nonprofit work. The purpose that leading indicators serve in resource-constrained companies. Challenges of creating leading indicators that provide actionable data. Two ways to determine whether or not an indicator is useful. Why there is no such thing as a perfect decision, even in high-stakes settings. Working back from your ‘why’ and other pro tips for creating leading indicators. Reasons that intentionality and testing are so important. Setbacks that ended up propelling Elena’s career forward. The value of having thought partners and focusing on tangible change. How continuous learning and mentorship can benefit your career.  
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]

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: It's OKR Quarterly Reset Time: Q1 performance review and Q2 goal-setting are upon us. Tune in to our LinkedIn Live sessions for my creative and generative approach to quarterly retrospectives.
No-BS OKRs Workshop: Our popular workshop is now available in a hybrid format. Join anytime, learn at your own pace, and get your OKRs written in just one week. 
The Evolutionary OKRs Playbook:
No-BS OKRs Workbook: A 50-page download with essential OKR basics and valuable cheat sheets, available later this March! No-BS OKRs Playbook: The "big book," covering deeper explanations and tackling OKR challenges, is scheduled for release in September. Stay Connected: Shoot me an email at sara@redcurrantco.com if you have questions about anything mentioned here -- and I appreciate your shares on this episode!
Links mentioned in this episode: FREE LinkedIn Live Webinars: Get ready for Q2! RSVP on LinkedIn Follow Sara on LinkedIn for updates about additional Live opportunities! No-BS OKRs Workshop: Asynchronous, self-paced learning Find more info at http://findrc.co/nobsokrs Or, register at https://www.thinkydoers.com/nobsokrs1 No-BS OKRs Workbook Excerpt: WTF Are OKRs? Download at: http://findrc.co/wtfokrs Evolutionary OKRs Playbook and Workbook updates: Join the pre-launch list at http://findrc.co/evokrpb 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.

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:
  Insight into Dat’s vision and the role of inclusively and resiliency in his practice.   His experience of stress and burnout on the path to becoming a life coach.   Ways that neurodivergent people may excel at simplifying complex information.   An understanding of the relationship between stress and resilience.   What Gabor Maté teaches us about trauma and healing.   Bury, release, process: three options for managing stress.   Surprisingly simple ways to release stress mentally, emotionally, and physically.   Why there is no “perfect” way to release; get creative!   Risks of processing stress without release, particularly for over-thinkers.   The significance of play, sleep, passion, and community.   How to intentionally design your life to release and process stress.   Dat’s advice for knowing when and how to speak and show up.

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:
  Why it’s important to identify how OKRs fit into an organization’s existing planning stack.   Three models to consider, starting with the Connected Strategic Implementation Stack.   Unpacking each layer of the stack: strategic input, North Star Metrics, and more.   Some of the typical sources of aversion to OKRs that Sara sees in organizations.   Defining mandatory commits, health watch measures, and stretch goals.   How delivery fits into the Connected Strategic Implementation Stack.   Why you don’t need to tick every box in this stack in order to be successful.   Stay tuned for more on the Connected Strategy on a Page and OKR Maturity models! 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

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:
Objectives and Key Results are introduced as a method for collaborative goal setting and alignment. 
OKRs bridge the gap between high-level strategy and tactical implementation, ensuring alignment with important outcomes. 
OKRs were popularized by John Doerr's book "Measure What Matters" and were influenced by Peter Drucker's "Management by Objectives." 
Over 127 different OKR management software platforms have caused some confusion in OKR methodology. 
Sara introduces the Evolutionary OKR model, which is her approach to OKRs, especially suited for high-change, innovation-oriented organizations. 
Evolutionary OKRs are about achieving growth, transformation, and innovation by aligning with important measures of success. 
Evolutionary organizations align on their theory of success and progress before planning activities, fostering continuous learning. 
Objectives are directional, purpose statements describing what to pursue and why; they provide focus on essential improvement directions. 
Key Results are objectively measurable targets describing essential measures of progress and success towards an objective. 
Key Results should not describe activities but outcomes; they need to be creatively measurable and focused. 
Evolutionary OKRs encourage outcome-based goals as key results, recognizing the importance of influence and aspiration. 
Key Results are experiments in quantifying improvement, focusing on the most important measures of progress and success. 

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]