Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Minette Norman, a seasoned leader and author, explores psychological safety, leadership myths, and managers' real impact on employee wellbeing. Minette shares her journey from technical writer to leading an enormous team of 3,500 engineers at Autodesk without learning any code. 

Minette has a genius way of simplifying the complex. She shares insight from her two books, The Boldly Inclusive Leadership and The Psychological Safety Playbook, giving you tangible how-to’s. Minette successfully navigated resistance to collaboration in her long-held position in Silicon Valley. From book recommendations to actionable insights for creating safe and productive work environments, this episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring leaders and curious minds alike.

Takeaways

• Debunking leadership myths and offering a model of vulnerability.
• Psychological safety fosters an environment where team members can openly ask questions, make mistakes, and share ideas without fear.
• Career pathway options for leaders and individual contributors.
• Building an inclusive workplace with the tipping point percentage.
• Offering the How-To guidance leaders are seeking.
• The importance of having an open mind in business.

Chapters

(00:00) Collaborating Ideas With An Open Mind With Minette Norman.

(03:08) Minette’s Journey From Technical Writer To Leader.

(04:59) Transforming Workspace Culture and Unify Teams.

(06:54) Overcoming Resistance To Collaborative Coding and Internal Competition.

(10:57) Importance of Yearly Summit In-Person Gathering.

(12:01) Adapting Meetings to Equalise Space & Include Quieter Individuals’ Insights.

(14:52) Reasons Behind The Boldly Inclusive Leader.

(17:36) Conceit of Leadership.

(21:47) Psychological Safety, Inclusion & Interpersonal Risk Taking.

(24:28) Co-Authoring Focused on How To Increase Psychological Safety.

(26:27) Asking For Other Points of View With An Open Mind.

(28:16) Learning From Mistakes.

(31:59) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Conference.

(35:17) Overcoming Affinity Bias To Embrace Diverse Groups.

(38:49) Loneliness in the Workplace.

(41:39) Quickfire Q&A with Minette Monkhouse.

(47:02) Book Recommendations.

About Minette Norman 

Minette Norman is an author, speaker, and leadership consultant who previously spent decades leading global technical teams in the software industry.

Minette has extensive experience leading internationally distributed teams and believes that when groups embrace diversity in all its forms, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. Before starting her consultancy, her most recent position was as Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk. Responsible for influencing more than 3,500 engineers around the globe, she focused on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture.

​Minette is a keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, psychological safety, collaborative teams, and empathy. Named in 2017 as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times and as “Business Role Model of the Year” in the 2018 Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards, Minette is a recognised leader with a unique perspective.

​Minette is the author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook.

Minette holds degrees in Drama and French from Tufts University and studied at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.

Follow Minette Norman

Website: https://www.minettenorman.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minettenorman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minettenorman/

Book Recommendations

The Boldly Inclusive Leadership: https://www.minettenorman.com/boldlyinclusiveleader 

The Psychological Safety Playbook: https://thepsychologicalsafetyplaybook.com

The Culture Map by Erin Meyer: https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/

Fearless Organization & Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson: https://amycedmondson.com/books/

Unlearning Silence by Elaine Lynn Herring: https://elainelinhering.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Alan Miltz, a renowned financial analysis and business strategy expert, shares insights into scaling up a business and improving its cash flow. He dives deep into the intricacies of financial management, from optimising cash flow and managing working capital to the fine art of pricing strategy.

Alan keeps the conversation simple, outlining how small 1% changes in one day can revolutionise a company's financial health. He offers his understanding of The Magic Number 200 and practical tools for improving cash flow and sustaining growth, even in challenging economic climates. Finally, Alan provides some excellent book recommendations for anyone looking to find hidden value in their business segments.

Takeaways

• Mastering the seven financial levers to enhance cash flow.
• Understand the power of incremental 1% improvements.
• Ensure your financial strategies are aligned with your bank's focus.
• Keep financial reports simple and relatable.
• Manage meetings so everyone understands the company’s story.
• Overcome the hesitation to raise prices.
• The Magic Number 200 explained simply.

Chapters

(00:00) Discussing Cash Flow, The Power of One and More With Alan Miltz

(05:13) Cash Flow Is Crucial In The Current Economy

(9:58) Seven Levers and Four Chapters In Business

(13:53) Management Team Responsibilities

(17:08) Cash Flow Burn 

(20:42) Relationship of Price vs. Volume to Cash Flow and Profit

(25:37) Identifying Profit Segments Using Cash Flow Ladder

(34:12) Magic Number of 200

(38:58) Cash Flow Story Software Tool

(41:02) Book Recommendations for Improving Business

About Alan Miltz

Alan Miltz has dedicated his life to helping business leaders and everyone in their team love the numbers. Revenue is vanity, Profit is sanity and Cash is king (or queen) are usually his opening words.

Alan is a co-author of Verne Harnish’s global best-selling book Scaling Up (having written the financial component of the book).

Alan believes that running a business is like managing a sports team: Everyone needs to know the score. Every business wants to scale up its profit, cash, and value. The Power of One, developed by Alan and the team at Cash Flow Story, is your company’s code. How many 1% or 1-day changes do you need to make to achieve your desired financial results?

Everything Alan has developed has had one common theme – to make the complex simple. As a founder of Inmatrix (known as Optimist software) in 1998, which is now the global standard for over 500 banks in more than 90 countries. More recently co-founded Cash Flow Story allowing non-financial individuals to easily analyse and improve business Profit, Cash & Value. This has helped 1000’s of businesses to scale 2xProfit, 3xCash and 10xBusiness Value.

Alan has been voted best speaker in Australia for TEC (the world’s largest CEO forum) and continues to speak at many CEO conferences globally, including the CEO syndicate in Australia, Entrepreneurs Organisation, and YPO. He also sits on the boards of 15 well-recognised companies globally.

Follow Alan Miltz

• Website
• LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Nick Bradley - world-renowned author, speaker, and business growth expert - shares his insights on private equity, business exits, and the common myths and mistakes entrepreneurs make when preparing to sell their businesses. He emphasises the importance of leadership, understanding the dynamics of private equity, and the need for businesses to focus on growth and valuation strategies. Nick also discusses the impact of customer concentration on business value and the transition from being a business owner to an investor. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the significance of personal growth, defining success, and the role of culture in scaling businesses. Finally, Nick offers book recommendations that can aid entrepreneurs on their journey.

Takeaways

• Common myths about exiting businesses can lead to mistakes.
• Leadership plays a vital role in business growth and scaling.
• Understanding private equity dynamics is essential for business owners.
• Valuation is influenced by both tangible and intangible assets.
• Customer concentration can significantly impact business value.
• Preparing for a successful exit requires strategic planning.
• The transition from business owner to investor can be rewarding.
• Personal growth and defining success are key to a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.

Chapters

(00:00) The Importance of Recording Interviews

(02:57) Navigating Private Equity and Exits

(05:56) Common Myths and Mistakes in Exiting Businesses

(08:53) The Role of Leadership in Business Growth

(12:00) Understanding Private Equity Dynamics

(15:06) Valuation and Growth Strategies for Businesses

(18:03) The Impact of Customer Concentration on Value

(21:01) Preparing for a Successful Exit

(24:04) The Transition from Business Owner to Investor

(27:00) The Evolution of Business Owners

(29:56) The Role of Culture in Scaling Businesses

(32:50) Defining Success and Personal Growth

(35:52) The Next Act After Exiting a Business

(38:59) Book Recommendations for Entrepreneurs

(42:07) Quickfire Questions with Nick Bradley

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Jade Green discusses sustainable business growth through effective recruitment strategies. She emphasises the importance of understanding client needs, creating attractive job descriptions, and nurturing new hires. The discussion also covers the significance of company culture, purpose, and values in attracting and retaining top talent. Jade shares insights on the war for talent, interviewing techniques, and the ideal recruitment process, along with recommended readings for further understanding of these concepts.

Takeaways

• Sustainable business growth requires fixing people problems.
• There is always a war for A-plus players in the job market.
• Understanding the job to be done is crucial for recruitment.
• Selling the opportunity to candidates is essential.
• Culture is caught, not taught; leaders must model desired behaviors.
• What you permit in your organisation, you promote.
• Nurturing new hires is key to their success and retention.
• Defining purpose, mission, and values helps attract the right talent.
• An attractive employer brand is vital for recruitment success.
• Effective interviewing techniques can reveal a candidate's true potential.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Sustainable Business Growth

(02:53) The War for Talent

(05:47) Understanding Client Needs in Recruitment

(09:04) The Importance of Job Descriptions

(11:55) Recruitment Challenges and Solutions

(15:08) Interviewing Techniques for Success

(18:01) Creating an Attractive Employer Brand

(20:54) Executive Recruitment Strategies

(24:10) The Ideal Recruitment Process

(26:54) Nurturing New Hires

(30:03) Defining Purpose, Mission, and Values

(32:57) The Role of Culture in Recruitment

(36:10) Recommended Reading for Recruitment Success

About Jade Green

As a transformational teacher, best selling author, global speaker, and adventurer, Jade has built an international reputation as a hard-charging, rule-breaking, serial entrepreneur and high performance coach. As a certified trainer and facilitator for Mindvalley and The Genius Group (Entrepreneur Resorts/Entrepreneurs Institute/GeniusU), Jade combines world class content and methodologies with two decades of experience building businesses. Among other accolades, she has been honoured as one of StartUp Daily's Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs Under 40, received two Bronze International Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and her Search Firm, Velocity Consulting, was the very first business to receive investment from The Entourage Growth Fund.

Follow Jade Green

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Youtube
• Spotify
• X

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Dan Pontefract discusses his journey as a leadership strategist, focusing on the importance of emotional intelligence, culture change, and the impact of nurturing curiosity within organisations. He shares insights from his experience at TELUS, where he helped transform the corporate culture and introduced innovative programs like the TELUS MBA.

The discussion emphasises the need for a unified leadership philosophy and the significance of treating employees with kindness and respect to foster a thriving workplace. In this conversation, Dominic Monkhouse reflects on the evolution of corporate culture and leadership, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence, collaboration, and a unified purpose within organisations. He discusses the identity crises faced by companies like Starbucks and Wells Fargo, highlighting the need for leaders to foster a culture of learning and development.

Dominic also shares insights from his books and recent readings, advocating for a more human-centric approach to leadership and work-life dynamics.

Takeaways

• Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.
• Organisations often promote individuals without considering their EQ.
• Culture change requires a unified leadership philosophy.
• Learned helplessness can hinder organisational growth.
• Leaders should focus on developing their teams.
• A supportive work environment fosters collaboration and innovation.
• Work-life balance is not always achievable; it's about blooming.
• The canoe metaphor illustrates the need for aligned leadership.
• CEOs play a significant role in shaping organisational culture.
• Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth.

Chapters

(00:00) Building Bridges: The Journey Begins

(03:14) Leadership Strategies: Transforming Organizations

(05:54) Culture Change: Lessons from TELUS

(09:11) The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

(11:52) Learned Helplessness: A Barrier to Growth

(14:47) Nurturing Curiosity: The Key to Engagement

(18:07) Creating a Unified Culture: The TELUS Leadership Philosophy

(20:53) Measuring Success: Engagement and Performance Metrics

(27:04) Reflecting on Leadership and Culture

(29:00) The Identity Crisis of Corporations

(31:22) The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

(33:42) Collaboration and Constructive Conflict

(35:59) The Shift from Know-it-alls to Learn-it-alls

(39:54) The Role of Leaders in Team Development

(40:50) Exploring the Books of Dominic Monkhouse

(44:30) Navigating Work-Life Dynamics

(46:51) Recent Reads and Inspirations

(49:39) Quickfire Questions and Insights

About Dan Pontefract

Dan is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, culture change expert, and renowned keynote speaker. His books and keynotes are a great starting point for transforming your team or corporate culture into a competitive advantage.

His five books include WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY.

WORK-LIFE BLOOM won the 2024 Axiom Business Book Gold Medal in the Leadership Category and is one of the Thinkers50 Top New Management Books for 2024.

LEAD. CARE. WIN. won the 2022 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Medal in the Leadership/Business category. It was a short-list finalist for the 2021 getAbstract International Book of the Year.

OPEN TO THINK won the 2019 getAbstract International Book of the Year and the 2019 Axiom Business Book Silver Medal winner in the Leadership Category.

Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review.

Previously as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS, he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects, and BCIT.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Dominic Monkhouse and Ben Arendt, author of 'How to Suck Less as a Manager: A Practical Guide to Making Your Team Less Miserable Today', discuss the challenges and nuances of effective management and leadership. They explore the importance of understanding team members, adapting to change, and fostering a culture of trust and autonomy. The discussion also touches on the impact of leadership on employee wellbeing, the significance of company values, and the lessons learned from both good and bad management experiences. Arant advocates for a more empathetic approach to leadership, encouraging managers to connect with their teams and prioritise mental health and engagement.

Takeaways

• Management is about continuous improvement, not perfection.
• Understanding your team's personal goals can enhance motivation.
• Mental wellbeing is crucial for productivity and engagement.
• Trust and autonomy are key to effective leadership.
• Company values should be authentic and practiced, not just stated.
• Not everyone is cut out for management roles.
• Effective communication can resolve conflicts and improve team dynamics.
• Leaders should invite skepticism and differing opinions to foster innovation.
• Self-awareness is essential for effective management.
• Leadership impacts employee wellbeing significantly.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Management Insights

(03:11) The Importance of Understanding Your Team

(06:00) Adapting to Change and Mental Wellbeing

(08:52) Trust and Autonomy in Leadership

(12:13) The Role of Values in Company Culture

(15:07) Learning from Bad Management Experiences

(17:48) The Transition from Individual Contributor to Manager

(21:08) The Impact of Leadership on Wellbeing

(23:57) Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution

(27:12) Final Thoughts and Recommendations

About Ben Arendt

Ben is the author of the Amazon best-selling “How To Suck Less as a Manager: A Practical Guide to Making Your Team Less Miserable Today!” and the founder of Depth Charge Consulting.

Ben’s years in the US government, CEB, and Gartner shaped his approach to serving leaders and their organizations. Through these experiences, Ben has supported hundreds of executives around the C-Suite, empowering leaders to achieve their goals, whether double-digit growth, improved employee experiences, or successful transformation.

At Depth Charge, Ben's two main customer groups include: Development-focused executives looking to improve manager quality at their organizations

GTM leaders seeking to improve sales efficacy, messaging, and commercial acumen.

Industry/Sector Expertise: Technology (incl/ SaaS), Energy, Retail, Manufacturing, Government, Education, Healthcare, Insurance, Financial Services, Professional Services, BioTech/Pharma, Nonprofit

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

The conversation explores the concept of high-performing sales behaviour and the challenges faced by sales professionals in the current market. It delves into the importance of understanding buyer indecision and the four key behaviours that help overcome it. The conversation also touches on the role of persuasion in sales, the need for sellers to adapt to changing buyer behaviours, and the potential retirement of salespeople who are not effective in their roles. In this conversation, Ted McKenna and Dominic Monkhouse discuss the importance of establishing trust and expertise in the sales process. They emphasise the need for sellers to own the flow of information and demonstrate their knowledge and experience to buyers. They also explore different profiles of business developers, with the activator profile being the most successful. Ted shares his thoughts on success, the most significant risk he's taken, and the worst business advice he's received.

Takeaways

• High-performing sales behaviour is defined as the top 20% of performers in a company, and it is important to study their behaviour to replicate their success.
• Buyer indecision is a common challenge in sales, and it is driven by fears such as options overload, analysis paralysis, and fear of failure.
• Sellers should be cautious about using persuasion techniques when buyers are indecisive, as it can backfire and make the situation worse.
• To help buyers overcome indecision, sellers should focus on understanding the depth of indecision, making firm recommendations, limiting excessive exploration, and managing risk.
• The sales profession needs to evolve and keep pace with changing buyer behaviours and preferences.
• There is still a need for salespeople, as buyers rely on them for guidance, assurance, and personalised recommendations. Establishing trust and expertise is crucial in the sales process.
• Sellers should own the flow of information and demonstrate their knowledge and experience to buyers.
• The activator profile is the most successful in business development.
• Success is measured by doing right by the people you love and finding joy in your work.
• Trying to be all things to all people is not effective in business.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to High-Performing Sales

(02:53) Defining High Performance in Sales

(06:04) The Role of Salespeople in Modern Buying

(09:05) Understanding Buyer Indecision

(11:48) The Jolt Effect and Overcoming Indecision

(18:00) Key Behaviors of Successful Sellers

(24:11) The Activator Advantage in Sales

(29:56) Professional Services and Selling Dynamics

(36:00) Books and Resources for Sales Professionals

(41:49) Personal Insights and Closing Thoughts

About Ted Mckenna

Ted McKenna is one of the world's leading experts in sales, business development, and customer experience and a co-author of the bestselling book The JOLT Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision and the upcoming book The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently (April 2025).

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Physician, physiologist, researcher, explorer, serial technology entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of Well Founded Dr. Jack Kreindler shares his unique journey as both a physician and technologist, discussing the evolution of medicine through technology, the importance of teamwork in extreme environments, and the insights gained from his South Pole expedition. He emphasises the significance of gender differences in endurance and collaboration, and introduces a health program designed for founders to enhance their well-being and performance. The discussion also touches on future innovations in health and the role of technology in improving medical practices.

takeaways

• Dr. Jack's journey began at a young age with a passion for technology.
• The intersection of medicine and technology is crucial for future practices.
• Longevity is a rebranding of preventive and lifestyle medicine.
• Women often outperform men in endurance and teamwork in extreme conditions.
• Team dynamics play a significant role in success during challenging expeditions.
• The South Pole expedition provided insights into human performance under stress.
• Founders' health is increasingly recognised as vital for business success.
• The six-month health program for founders is designed for maximum impact.
• Open sourcing the methodology allows broader access to health insights.
• Future innovations in health may involve AI and human collaboration.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Dr. Jack and His Journey

(03:07) The Intersection of Medicine and Technology

(05:47) Exploring Longevity and Preventive Medicine

(09:03) Gender Differences in Endurance and Team Dynamics

11:54) Insights from the South Pole Expedition

(15:12) The Importance of Teamwork in Extreme Conditions

(18:06) Founders' Health Program and Its Impact

(20:59) Future Directions and Innovations in Health

About Dr Jack Kreindler

Physician, physiologist, serial entrepreneur, public speaker, and recently t

he mind behind The End of Ageing TedxLondonSalon, Dr Jack Kreindler has an impressive track record. I interviewed Jack at his ‘Centre for Health and Human Performance’ lab on Harley Street, an underground physiology and sports medicine boutique with a spa-like feel – filled with bikes, cardio machines and high-spec monitoring equipment.

CHHP is for those curious about their physiology – whether to optimise self-management of a chronic condition, enable elite sports performance or improve everyday functioning. I’m told the CHHP team treat the very sickest patients and athletes alike, training them to achieve their best possible physiological outcomes.

Sentrian Inc., a CHHP spin-out, is one of Jack’s latest technology projects. Sentrian is a cloud-based Remote Patient Intelligence company that aims to leverage the biosensor and machine learning revolutions to detect deterioration in patients’ health, before they become acutely unwell

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Arnie Malham, founder of CJ Advertising and Legal Intake Professionals, discusses the importance of workplace culture and the value of reading in personal and professional growth. He shares his experience with building a strong culture in his own companies and the impact it had on employee satisfaction and performance. Arnie also introduces the concept of the Better Book Club, a program he developed to encourage reading and personal development within organisations. He emphasises the role of leadership in shaping culture and provides a framework for creating a positive and thriving work environment. Arnie Malham discusses the importance of creating a strong company culture and shares insights on how to build and maintain it. He emphasises the need for leaders to prioritise their team's growth and development, and to be deliberate in shaping the culture they want. Arnie suggests giving cultural programs to champions within the organisation, rather than relying solely on HR or top leadership. He also highlights the significance of celebrating milestones and creating a history of success within the company. Arnie shares his own experiences and lessons learned from running his company for 10 years and offers book recommendations for further reading on culture and leadership.

takeaways

• Workplace culture reflects leadership and is crucial for employee satisfaction and performance.
• Reading is a valuable tool for personal and professional growth.
• The Better Book Club is a program that promotes reading and personal development within organisations.
• Leadership plays a key role in shaping and maintaining a positive work culture.
• A strong culture is built on core values, consistent actions, and a focus on growth and development. Leaders should prioritise the growth and development of their team members to create a strong company culture.
• Cultural programs should be led by champions within the organisation, rather than relying solely on HR or top leadership.
• Celebrating milestones and creating a history of success within the company is important for building a positive culture.
• Arnie shares his own experiences and lessons learned from running his company for 10 years.
• Book recommendations for further reading on culture and leadership include 'Double Double' by Cameron Harold, 'Uncontainable' by Kip Tindell, and 'Find Your Yellow Tux' by Jesse Cole.

Chapters

(01:10) Arnie's Expertise in Workplace Culture

(03:13) The Better Book Club

(06:25) Arnie's Background and Transition to Coaching

(10:11) Target Audience and Pain Points

(12:07) Arnie's Background and Introduction

(19:16) Arnie's Businesses: CJ Advertising and Legal Intake Professionals

(21:22) Creating a Strong Culture

(25:46) Arnie's Framework for Building a Great Culture

(28:08) Leadership's Role in Shaping Culture

(28:46) Prioritising Growth and Development for a Strong Company Culture

(30:00) The Role of Champions in Cultural Programs

(36:23) The Importance of Onboarding and Checklists

(41:10) Creating a Culture of Celebration and Milestones

(45:20) Lessons Learned from Running a Company for 10 Years

About Arnie Malham

Arnie Malham is an award-winning CEO/founder, 8-figure entrepreneur and best-selling author who helps progressive leaders create engaging and sustainable cultures within their organizations.

With more than 20 years as a successful entrepreneur, Arnie has founded and sold multiple businesses, including his most recent sale of a prominent advertising firm producing more than $60M in annual revenue. Through employing thousands of team members across three different companies, he has implemented simple, yet effective methods to create remarkable and sustainable cultures.

Arnie is an international speaker who has spoken to more than 10,000 executives, CEOs, and entrepreneurs worldwide on the topic of culture and team member engagement, and has also been featured in leading media such as CBS and Forbes. Arnie was awarded Most Admired CEO, ranked in Nashville’s Best Places to Work, and was an Ernst and Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” finalist.

Today, Arnie is the founder and CEO of BetterBookClub where he helps companies, leaders, and individuals build a strong culture that both attracts the best people and rewards those who seek personal growth within the organization.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

Josh Seiden & Jeff Gothelf join Dominic Monkhouse to talk about one of his favourite growth tools - OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

The discussion dives deep into the world of OKRs, highlighting their critical role in goal-setting and driving organisational alignment. The guests introduce their latest book, Who Does What By How Much?, which offers a fresh, customer-focused take on OKRs. They stress the importance of shifting from output-driven goals to outcome-based objectives that are tightly aligned with customer needs and behaviours.

A key theme of the conversation is the delicate balance between Business as Usual (BAU) activities and the implementation of OKRs. This episode explores how OKRs should not only complement existing operations but also help steer an organisation’s strategy. They discuss the ideal timeframe for setting corporate OKRs, with an emphasis on quarterly check-ins and measurable key results that track progress throughout the year.

The conversation also addresses practical challenges, such as fostering collaboration across teams and securing leadership buy-in, both of which are essential for successful OKR implementation. The speakers advise organisations to start small, gradually expand OKR adoption, and invest time and effort into their OKR process while still keeping an eye on BAU performance.

In addition to their insights on OKRs, the guests share personal book recommendations and reflect on their own definitions of success, rounding out a rich discussion that not only offers practical advice but also broader perspectives on achieving meaningful outcomes in today's customer-driven world.

Takeaways

• OKRs should be customer-centric and focused on outcomes rather than outputs.
• Aligning goals with the needs and behaviours of customers leads to better products and services.
• Strategic goals should be set for a year, while tactical goals can be set on a quarterly or monthly basis.
• The conversation and alignment around OKRs should be a two-way process, involving input from all levels of the organisation.
• Flexibility and customisation are key in implementing OKRs, as each organisation's needs and context may vary. Set quarterly check-ins and key results that can be measured throughout the year.
• Prioritise customer-centric goals and focus on changing customer behaviour.
• Start small and gradually expand OKR implementation.
• Allocate time and effort to OKRs while maintaining business as usual metrics.
• Facilitate collaboration and foster leadership buy-in for successful OKR implementation.
• Continuously learn and acquire new skills to enhance personal and professional growth.

Chapters

(03:13) The Power of Customer-Centric OKRs

(07:19) Balancing BAU and OKRs

(13:53) The Role of Strategy in OKR Implementation

(25:15) Setting the Timeframe for Corporate OKRs

(30:40) Setting Quarterly Check-ins and Measurable Key Results

(32:14) Prioritising Customer-Centric Goals for Changing Customer Behavior

(41:40) Challenges of Collaboration and the Role of Leadership Buy-in

(47:00) Starting Small and Gradually Expanding OKR Implementation

(49:16) Allocating Time and Effort to OKRs while Maintaining Business as Usual Metrics

(56:01) Continuous Learning and Personal Growth for Success

About Josh Seiden

Josh Seiden has been creating great technology products for more than 20 years. A UX design leader, Josh has worked in hardware and software, consumer and enterprise, mobile, web, and desktop. He was a Principal at Neo and, prior to that role, he was head of product design at Wall Street innovator Liquidnet, and lead pioneering interaction design teams at Cooper. He is a founder and past president of the Interaction Design Association.

About Jeff Gothelf

Jeff helps organizations build better products and executives build the cultures that build better products. He is the co-author of the award-winning book Lean UX and the Harvard Business Review Press book Sense & Respond. Starting off as a software designer, Jeff now works as a coach, consultant and keynote speaker helping companies bridge the gaps between business agility, digital transformation, product management and human-centred design. His latest book, Forever Employable, was published in June 2020.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business