Meet an OKR Coach: Jason Johnston (Part One)

Jul 2, 2024

Establishing clear objectives and key results (OKRs) isn't just about direction and accountability. It’s about driving real change within organizations. Today’s episode kicks off our two-part conversation with the delightful Jason Johnston, OKR Practice Lead for Genetec, a technology company in the security products and solutions space.

Jason is also a veteran whose 20-year military career has given him a unique perspective on leadership and problem-solving.

Join us as Jason shares his insights on fostering an environment where OKRs can thrive, the challenges of shifting from a task-oriented to an outcome-oriented mindset, and the critical role of leadership in guiding teams. We also explore how positive reinforcement and diverse perspectives on outcomes can drive success and why so many OKR practitioners exemplify servant leadership.

Tune in to discover practical tips and inspiring stories from Jason’s journey, and learn how to navigate the complexities of OKRs in your own work environment!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A quick update: How to check out the new No-BS OKR Self-Assessment tool.
• Insight into Jason’s role as the OKR Practice Lead at Genetec.
• Why he’s a self-described servant leader and why that’s often the case for OKR practitioners.
• How he first started working with OKRs and got his company to create a position for him.
• Driving change within a company by leading others rather than doing the work for them.
• Jason’s unique career background and what initially attracted him to the practice of OKRs.
• Lessons on heroism and preparation from his military career (and how it relates to OKRs).
• The adaptive nature of Jason’s work environment: how it has facilitated his career transitions.
• How the No-BS OKR class changed Jason’s approach to OKRs and made it more intuitive.
• The biggest challenges Jason has seen when it comes to implementing OKRs.
• Using leadership to help people shift from a task-oriented to an outcome-oriented mindset.
• Why existing metrics aren’t always adequate for measuring outcomes and leading indicators.
• Key aspects of OKRs that have made a difference in Jason’s life and work.
• How continuous learning and service leadership among OKR practitioners foster positivity.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Genetec
• Jason Johnston on LinkedIn
• Red Currant No-BS OKR Self-Assessment Tool
• Measure What Matters
• Christina Wodke & Radical Focus
• Sara Lobkovich
• Sara Lobkovich Email Address
• Sara Lobkovich on Mastadon
• Red Currant Collective
• Sign up for RedCurrant’s newsletter
• Red Currant Collective on Instagram
• Thinkydoers

Quotes:

“I consider myself a servant-leader, that’s how I function and how I act. I get my success from others succeeding. I don’t get my success from me succeeding.” — Jason Johnston [07:35]

“If we want to create real change in anything we’re doing, especially in the companies we’re in, somebody has to drive it.” — Jason Johnston [14:03]

“The No-BS OKRs class really kind of changed the way I look at OKRs and [made] it more intuitive.” — Jason Johnston [22:28]

“We have to put as much emphasis on the things that we accomplish as well as the things we don’t accomplish. And the process built around that is important.” — Jason Johnston [37:02]