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Beyond OKRs: Radhika Dutt on the Performance Trap and the Puzzle Mindset
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Are your goals helping you adapt—or just perform?
In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Radhika Dutt joins Mike Jones to expose the hidden trap of OKRs and KPI-led management. Drawing on her latest work and the OHL Toolkit, Radhika introduces a radical shift: move from setting performance targets to setting puzzles.
They explore how metrics create fragility, why freedom of action matters, and how to scaffold real learning without losing direction. From military concepts to corporate leadership, this is a sharp critique of goal setting gone wrong—and a practical alternative for those ready to rethink success.
📥 Download the OHL Toolkit
🌐 Visit Radhika’s Website
🔗 Connect with Radhika on LinkedIn
🔍 In this episode:
- Why OKRs often create performance theatre
- Puzzle setting vs puzzle solving
- How scaffolding enables experimentation
- Freedom of action without losing control
- Rethinking what good leadership looks like
- The danger of mistaking metrics for outcomes
🎧 Keywords: OKRs, KPIs, leadership, complexity, adaptability, performance theatre, puzzle mindset, experimentation, scaffolding, radical product thinking, Radhika Dutt
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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast
📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout
💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/
Chapters
1. Introduction to Radhika Dutt (00:00:00)
2. Background and Radical Product Thinking (00:01:38)
3. The Challenges of Goal Setting (00:02:47)
4. The Impact of Targets on Performance (00:05:00)
5. The Flaws of OKRs and KPIs (00:07:43)
6. Historical Context of Goal Setting (00:09:54)
7. Complex Problems vs. Simple Tasks (00:12:02)
8. Puzzle Setting and Puzzle Solving (00:15:23)
9. Scaffolding for Experimentation and Learning (00:18:24)
10. Military Mindset and Freedom of Action (00:21:26)
11. Harnessing Skills in the Corporate World (00:26:16)
12. The Importance of Experimentation and Learning (00:28:59)
13. The Dangers of Performance Theatre (00:30:56)
14. Scaffolding for Effective Experimentation (00:32:40)
15. Building a Culture of Constant Experimentation (00:36:36)
16. Redefining Success Beyond Metrics (00:40:10)
17. Personal Reflections on Impact and Legacy (00:46:04)
18. Outro (00:54:21)
28 episodes
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