The 'Triangulated Outcome' Formulation
by Christina Wodtke • Author & Lecturer at Stanford University at Stanford University / Wodtke Consulting
Christina is the author of the seminal OKR book 'Radical Focus' and teaches product management at Stanford. She is a former product leader at LinkedIn, MySpace, Zynga, and Yahoo, known for helping companies fix broken execution processes through OKRs and storytelling.
🎙️ Episode Context
In this deep dive into execution, Christina Wodtke dismantles the bureaucratic view of OKRs, reframing them as a tool for learning and focus rather than just goal-setting. She outlines the precise cadence required to make OKRs work, the connection between 5-year missions and weekly tasks, and why 'product sense' is often just a myth for junior PMs. The episode provides a blueprint for fixing dysfunctional teams by establishing a rhythm of commitment and celebration.
Problem It Solves
Prevents teams from creating task-lists disguised as OKRs or creating goals that game the system (e.g., increasing clicks but destroying retention).
Framework Overview
A method for drafting robust OKRs that balances inspiration with concrete, multi-dimensional metrics. It ensures that hitting a goal actually results in business value.
🧠 Framework Structure
Single Inspiring Objective: The Objec...
Triangulated Key Results: Select ~3 K...
The 'How Do We Know' Interrogation: F...
The 10-Minute Brainstorm: Spend 10 mi...
When to Use
During quarterly planning when defining success criteria for a new product launch or a growth initiative.
Common Mistakes
Confusing tasks (binary: ship the feature) with outcomes (analog: user behavior changed).
Real World Example
An online interior design magazine wanting to improve 'recommendations.' Instead of a KR like 'Launch new algo,' they used '30% of audience converts from browser to member' and 'Users like 3 products per week.'
If you just asked the question, 'What are we doing this week to get closer to our strategic goals?' That is the very heart of it.
— Christina Wodtke