The OKR Podcast Strategy at the Speed of Change
Nov 17, 2025
Steve Shafer, CEO of A.O. Smith, shares insights from his extensive leadership journey at top companies like 3M and McKinsey. He delves into the importance of connecting long-range goals to quarterly OKRs and how real-time insights help keep strategy agile. Steve emphasizes the necessity of adapting leadership styles to market dynamics and tailoring change efforts to team capabilities. With a focus on data-driven decision-making and transparency, he illustrates how OKRs enhance alignment and execution in rapidly shifting environments.
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From Bicycles To Water Technology
- Steve Shafer recounts A.O. Smith's origins as a bicycle shop and evolution into water technology over 150 years.
- The company invented the glass-lined water heater and repeatedly reinvented its portfolio to lead markets.
Continuous Reinvention Drives Longevity
- A.O. Smith continuously reinvents itself, moving across industries over 150 years to stay market-leading.
- Long-term survival requires persistent innovation and willingness to self-disrupt.
Always-On Strategy Beats Annual Plans
- Steve Shafer links strategy and execution as a consistent thread across his career from factory floors to boards.
- He embraces an always-on strategy mindset because annual plans become outdated too quickly.