Giant Talk: The World‘s First OKR Podcast

S10: E14 What If We Stopped Calling Them OKRs?

We're sure you've heard the acronym: OKRs - Objectives and Key Results. But somewhere along the way, the simplicity got lost in translation. In this episode, we ask: What if we stopped calling them OKRs altogether? Roger Longden, TBG Founder and Marc Applebaum PM2 OKR Consultant at PM2 discuss how goal-setting became over engineered, why rhythms matter more than rituals, and the power of intention over jargon. If you’re over hearing acronym over acronym but love what OKRs are all about, or if you've ever wondered why your team’s goals feel disconnected—this one’s for you.   Enjoy the episode!

S10: E13 From the ground up - cracking the code on frontline alignment

In this insightful episode of Giant Talk, Roger sits down with Sonia, an experienced HR professional and coach, to explore the critical challenge of organisational alignment. They dive deep into why strategic goals often get lost or diluted as they cascade through different levels of an organisation. Drawing from decades of experience at the board level, Sonia shares sharp insights into the disconnect between strategic goals and frontline execution. From her own journey leading blue-collar teams through transformation, to her mission to democratise coaching in business, this conversation uncovers the human side of alignment—trust, communication, confidence, and the critical role of first-line managers. Enjoy the episode!

S10: E12 The shifting OKR landscape - Insights from Perdoo’s Founder

In this episode, we sit down with our long-time friend Henrik-Jan Van Der Pol, Founder of Perdoo, to dig into the evolving world of OKRs. As the market shifts, with consultancies and software providers consolidating or shutting down, what’s really going on? Henrik-Jan shares his insights on these changes, the lessons learned over the past 4–5 years, and what Microsoft’s decision to retire Viva Goals means for the future of OKRs. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation. Enjoy the episode!   Visit Perdoo [https://www.perdoo.com/]

S10: E11 Why care about Accountability?

In this episode, we’re joined by Sten, founder of Tability, an OKR platform designed to make accountability seamless and help teams achieve their goals faster. We chat about how accountability fits into the OKR framework and why this is so crucial. Sten explains that while teams often excel at setting goals during workshops, they frequently “drop the ball” when it comes to staying on track. Tability bridges this gap by making goals part of your weekly routine instead of something that gets revisited only at the end of the quarter. Here are some of the key takeaways from our conversation: * Why spreadsheets fail for OKRs: Goals on spreadsheets can easily lead to drift. Without regular check-ins, teams lose momentum. * Building habits for weekly accountability: Sten emphasises the importance of reviewing progress to ensure you're moving in the right direction * Speeding up execution: Delayed feedback can waste time and resources. By integrating OKRs into a team's rhythm, Tability empowers faster decision-making and execution. * Enabling self-management: The ultimate goal of OKRs is to help teams self-manage effectively. This approach contrasts with traditional command-and-control models and unlocks bottom-up energy. * Adapting to leadership changes: Sten shares how Tability often supports teams undergoing leadership shifts by providing clarity and empowering individuals * The importance of setting clear expectations: Goals aren’t a silver bullet—they require clarity, alignment, and regular follow-up to be effective. If your team has ever struggled to stay accountable to your goals or wants to achieve faster execution with fewer bottlenecks, this episode is sure to arm you with lots of insights.   Enjoy the episode!

S10: E10 OKRs and the future: Staying relevant in a data-driven world

Welcome back to another episode of Giant Talk. In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Elliot, a seasoned CEO with a career spanning commercial sales & marketing, strategy consulting, and leadership. Jonathan shares his expertise on implementing Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in large, complex organisations and the unique challenges that come with it. We discuss: * The role of OKRs: How OKRs help organisations scale, transform, and navigate crises * Building alignment: Creating a vision, clarifying roles, and ensuring teams stay aligned without disruption. * Future-focused thinking: Why OKRs should be tied to forward-looking metrics, not past performance. * Strategic Execution: Why success isn’t just about hitting “green” metrics but executing the strategy effectively. Jonathan also highlights the universal value of OKRs for organisations of all sizes and the top benefits of implementing this framework effectively. If you're ready to align your teams and drive meaningful outcomes, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.   Enjoy the episode!