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Adam Kalsey

This is the blog of Adam Kalsey. Unusual depth and complexity. Rich, full body with a hint of nutty earthiness.

8 items tagged with okrs

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10 OKR traps and how to avoid them (May 5, 2025) I’ve helped lots of teams implement OKRs or fix a broken OKR process. Here are the 10 most common problems I see, and what to do instead.

The Dark Side of Input Metrics (November 11, 2023) Using input metrics in the wrong way can cause unexpected behaviors, stifled creativity, and micromanagement.

How I use OKRs (October 10, 2023) A description of how I use OKRs to guide a team, written so I can send to future teams.

Lagging Outcomes (August 8, 2023) Long-term things often end up off a team's goals because they can't see how to define measurable outcomes for them. Here's how to solve that.

Tyranny of Outcomes (August 8, 2023) An extreme focus on outcomes can have an undesired effect on product teams.

Stretching your team (June 6, 2018) Stretching your team is one of the best ways to improve your output, your team's happiness, and your velocity. But they'll need coaching.

Recently Written

10 OKR traps and how to avoid them
May 8: I’ve helped lots of teams implement OKRs or fix a broken OKR process. Here are the 10 most common problems I see, and what to do instead.
AI is Smart, But Wisdom Requires Judgement
May 3: AI can process data at lightning speed, but wisdom comes from human judgment—picking the best imperfect option when facts alone don’t point the way.
Decoding Product Leadership Titles
Mar 18: Not all product leadership titles mean what they sound like. ‘Head of Product’ can mean anything from a senior PM to a true VP. Here’s how to tell the difference.
What branding can teach about culture
Jan 8: Culture is your company’s point of view in action—a framework guiding behavior, even in the unknown. You can’t copy it; it must reflect your unique perspective.
Think Systems, not Symptoms
Dec 15: Piecemeal process creation frustrates teams and slows work. Stop patching problems and start solving systems. Adopting a systems thinking approach helps you design processes that are efficient, aligned with goals, and truly add value.
Your Policies Aren’t Your Culture
Dec 13: Policies guide behavior, but culture is the lived norms and values of your team. Policies reflect culture -- they don’t define it. Netflix’s parental leave shift didn’t change its culture of freedom and responsibility. It clarified how to live it.
Lighten Your Process Burden
Dec 7: Everyone hates oppressive processes, but somehow we keep managing to create them.
Product Add-Ons Are An Expansion Myth
Dec 1: Add-ons can enhance your product’s appeal but won’t drive significant market growth. To expand your customer base, focus on developing standalone products.

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