Beyond OKRs: Radhika Dutt on the Performance Trap and the Puzzle Mindset

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

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/