Mastering OKRs: A CFO’s Guide with Bryan Morris of Demandbase

13 snips

Aug 19, 2024

Bryan Morris, the CFO of Demandbase, dives into the intricacies of mastering OKRs as organizations gear up for 2025. He shares strategies for setting effective OKRs, aligning goals across departments, and why they sometimes lose steam. Morris emphasizes the importance of structured weekly updates and discusses the role of personality tests in maximizing team dynamics. He also touches on the CFO's critical influence over software decisions and the hidden costs associated with poor tech choices, offering valuable insights for finance leaders.

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ADVICE

OKR Planning

Connect your annual strategy to an operating framework, like OKRs, for clarity.
Ensure OKRs are ambitious yet credible, aligning with available resources.

INSIGHT

OKR Structure

Aim for 4 company-level objectives with 3-5 key results each.
Department-level OKRs should loosely align with company objectives, not cascade rigidly.

ADVICE

Stretch Goals

Use stretch goals for sales teams, but maintain clarity on the primary goal.
Differentiate between goals tied to compensation and board-approved plans.

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In this episode, CJ interviews Bryan Morris, CFO of Demandbase, for an in-depth discussion on the complexities of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). As the planning season for 2025 kicks into gear, Bryan shares his insights on setting the right OKRs, aligning them across departments, and explaining why they often lose momentum. He discusses his approach to tracking OKRs, the tools he uses, and his thoughts on making midyear adjustments. Bryan also talks about the value of weekly written executive team updates and formats for efficient meetings. Bryan, a strong advocate of personality tests, unpacks how they enhance talent management, before shedding light on the tough side of leadership and how to approach moving people out of the company when it’s not working. The episode wraps up with Bryan’s insights on a CFO’s decision-making power over an organization’s software stack, including the risks of tool consolidation and the hidden costs of poor tech choices.

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@cjgustafson222 (CJ)

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TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:34) Sponsor - Leapfin | Planful(05:04) OKRs in Planning Season(07:55) Department OKRs Versus Company OKRs(10:04) The Pros and Cons Stretch Goals(12:19) When and Where Do OKRs Fail(16:28) Sponsor - Mercury | NetSuite | Maxio(19:52) Adjusting OKRs During the Year(21:50) Tools to Track OKRs(22:41) How Weekly Written Team Updates Work(24:53) Formats for Executive Team Meetings(28:20) Talent Management and the Benefits of Personality Tests(32:49) Soft Skills to Screen for When Hiring(33:45) Advice for Off-boarding People(37:25) CFOs and Company-wide Software Decisions(41:59) The Pros and Cons of Tool Consolidation(44:21) Hidden Costs of Choosing the Wrong Technology(45:40) Tips for Negotiating Software Deals(47:30) Long-ass Lightning Round: Wire Fraud Regrets(49:15) Advice to Bryan’s Younger Self(51:58) Finance Software Stack(52:36) Craziest Expense Story

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