In this episode, Tim joins Andrew Murphy for a live chat all about making OKRs work in the messy, real world of business—not just the theory.
They unpack the early days of OKRs, what makes them powerful, and how the wrong leadership culture can quietly kill them. Tim shares the moment in his career that flipped his mindset from outputs to outcomes (spoiler: it involves 18 years of work that never made it to production).
They also dive into product discovery, why most teams set OKRs too early, and the hidden danger of treating internal metrics like they're the outcome. Packed with war stories, practical advice and a fair bit of sarcasm, this is one of those episodes that’ll shift how you think about goal-setting—at every level of your business.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Strategy Candy Podcast
01:11 Icebreaker: Favorite Tech Gadgets
03:45 Tim's Journey into OKRs
10:01 Understanding OKRs: Basics and Importance
15:15 Aligning Team and Organizational OKRs
21:46 Product Discovery and OKRs
27:15 Introduction to Metrics in Software Development
30:05 Exploring Leading and Lagging Indicators
33:24 The Role of OKRs in Engineering Teams
35:06 Challenges and Solutions in Product Development
39:41 Leadership and Coaching for Effective OKRs
44:08 Resources and Final Thoughts
Guest Bio
Andrew Murphy is the founder of Tech Leader’s Launchpad, a community and content hub for current and aspiring engineering leaders. With a background in software development, team leadership and digital transformation, Andrew helps tech leads level up fast without losing their soul—or their Saturdays.
OKR Quickstart Guide & Resources HERE
Follow Tim on LinkedIn: Tim Newbold on LinkedIn and Instagram
🎧 Listen now and learn how to stop tracking outputs and start delivering real outcomes.
