Scaleup Leaders: Stories from Experience

In this episode I go through my 5-step process for the execution of OKRs.You've got your OKRs set up, and now it's time to do the work and actually execute them.In this episode I cover:Planning - A basis for changeReviewing - Iterate and socialiseWeekly Meeting - Create momentum and course correctWeekly Review - Capture problems and winsWeekly Recognition - celebrate the wins!The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead.Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

These are questions I collected over the last weeks from comments and questions asked by future and current clients.0:04:20 - My CEO is incompetent. What should I do?0:10:10 - How can I use OKRs to measure productivity objectively?0:15:13 - My product and engineering team isn't trusted by the rest of the organisation. How do I create trust?0:28:33 - Can OKRs work in a hybrid, remote or in-person environment?0:32:12 - In a multi-level organisation, it takes too long to set OKRs at each level and align them with each layer above. What should we do?The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead.Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Allan Boyle of Saltwater Consulting. Allan helps Technology companies Scale Well, and we are both Amazon alumni, so it was good to catch up with him and discuss OKRs in the Scaleup context.   Find Allan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanboyle-transformation/Allan's website: http://saltwaterconsulting.ie/__________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead. Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

I was asked by a client (a large multinational) to hold a Q&A on OKRs. They have a large team of OKR coaches and wanted my perspective on several issues they were dealing with. __________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead. Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

Amanda Colpoys knows how to 👉 remain nimble at scale. 👈She has helped grow Moonpig, Gousto and OVO to unicorn status.Here’s what we discussed:👉 What lack of strategy does to your focus👉 How to create and maintain alignment (OKRs may help!)👉 Coaching to enable autonomy and empowermentConnect with her on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacolpoys/__________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead. Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

What are the root causes for people problems in Scaleups?I will be talking all things Team & Peoplewith my friend and former colleague Janie Links.Janie started her career 20 years ago as a headhunter.And her roster of clients and employers reads like a Who is Who of London tech:Google, Criteo, Wonga, The Trainline.She has seen it all in Scaleups - the booms, the busts, the hiring frenzies and the layoffs.Now, Janie is running High Calibre People, a HR consultancy, where she advises Scaleups on all things people and growth.Time Stamps:00:02 Welcome & Intro03:33 Janie’s clientele05:43 Janie’s entry process09:16 When do clients need Janie11:30 Diagnosing the gaps in your business/team14:30 Janie’s level of involvement in teams' development16:10 How your people strategies support company/clients goals21:05 On having great leadership26:20 When to do leveling32:20 On calibrating people & expectations36:19 How OKRs relate to leveling42:09 Equity vs. Cash46:10 Advice for companies setting up a talent engine49:50 Hiring at the right level & justifying them53:50 Janie's top tips56:40 WrapupLearn more about Janie here: https://highcalibrepeople.com/and here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janielinks/__________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead. Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

Dora Nagy has worked at Google in Product Marketing and Global Sales Strategy and Operations, and at SoftBank and Kheiron Medical as Chief of Staff. She's an accomplished executive coach for high-growth startups.Dora and I discuss what a Chief of Staff is, why your company needs (or doesn't need!) one, and what makes a great Chief of Staff.We also dove into some of her experiences working with founders and exec teams as a CoS or coach, her experiences with OKRs and other systems, and much more.Time Stamps:00:04 Welcome & intro01:39 What is a Chief of Staff?05:42 The between a COO & Chief of Staff08:01 The Chief of Staff framework (the 5 Ps)11:09 Why and when do companies need a Chief of Staff?13:19 The evolution of a Chief of Staff15:40 Layers of a Chief of Staff18:40 The relationship between the Principal & Chief of Staff20:08 Things that could go wrong between a Principal & Chief of Staff22:05 Chief of Staff vs Executive Assistant24:31 How should someone external work with a Chief of Staff?27:03 When should founders approach Dora?28:34 Dora's experience with the 5 Ps35:02 Dora's thoughts on disagreements within the team39:52 How Dora finds consensus in different types of companies42:56 Dora's coaching experience45:10 The importance of strategy & vision48:57 The power of cross-function conversations50:42 Tool to make it work53:27 How & where to reach Dora55:50 WrapupLearn more about Dora from her website:www.doranagy.com__________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead. Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

It's time for a Q&A. These are question I collected over the last weeks from comments and questions asked by future and current clients. 0:01:47 Our output metrics take more than a quarter to see a change - how do we set OKRs for such a short period?0:07:31 What's different about OKRs in scaleups vs. more mature companies?0:10:38 If we use OKRs to say no to other work, how do the urgent and important things that come up during the quarter get done?0:18:36 Can I use OKRs to transition from a sales-led organisation to a product or customer-led organisation?0:22:39 Can I use OKRs in my personal life or in my relationships?0:27:46 We use SAFe, the Scaled Agile Framework, so we already have a cadence. How do we integrate OKRs with that?0:36:04 How do I convince my management to adopt OKRs?0:44:18 How do I get executive buy in for my OKRs?__________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead. Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

So you’re half-way through the quarterShould you check in on the progress of your OKRs? That’s what we cover in this episode:✅ How to check if you're on track✅ What to do if you aren’t✅ How to run a meeting usefully✅ How to manage expectations up and across__________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead.Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com

Christian Miccio is a UK-based ex-Google and Shazam (and others!) Product Leadership Consultant, working mostly with growth-stage startups.We talked about product, leadership and being effective in growth companies.__________The Scaleup Leader is a podcast about helping fast-growing tech companies scale better and execute faster with OKRsI (Richard Russell) am an ex-Amazon & ex-Google product tech lead.Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/richardarussellAnd subscribe to my twice monthly email on www.richardrussell.co/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scaleupleaders.substack.com