Secrets of the Career Game 122. You're Hitting Every Goal and Still Falling Behind with Radhika Dutt
Hitting every goal should feel like progress. Instead, it often leaves high performers stuck, frustrated, and quietly falling behind. Kendall Berg breaks down why traditional goal setting systems like OKRs and KPIs reward performance optics while hiding the problems leaders actually need to see.
In this conversation with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, Kendall challenges the belief that better metrics lead to better decisions. They unpack why green numbers can create dangerous blind spots, how teams learn to filter bad news, and why leaders become the last to know when strategy is breaking down. The episode introduces a smarter alternative to goal chasing that helps teams surface real issues, think more strategically, and stay aligned as priorities shift.
Radhika shares her puzzle setting and puzzle solving framework, a practical way to replace false certainty with curiosity, learning, and iteration. Instead of obsessing over targets, leaders learn how to frame the right questions, invite honest feedback, and guide teams through uncertainty without losing credibility or control. This episode is essential listening for professionals who want to move from execution to influence and lead with clarity in fast changing environments.
In this episode, we discuss:-
Why do OKRs and KPIs hide problems instead of revealing them?
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How does hitting every goal still lead to stalled career growth?
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What is the puzzle setting method and how does it replace goal chasing?
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How can leaders admit uncertainty without losing authority?
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What is the first step to changing goal driven cultures without resistance?
FREE toolkit for puzzle-setting and
puzzle-solving: https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit
Follow Radhika Dutt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/
π― Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course
About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall BergKendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy β not stress.
βοΈ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me β let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat β https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up
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