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Michael Koenig

Michael Koenig
The Mechanics of Drift: Why Strategy and Execution Part Ways

okrs

The Mechanics of Drift: Why Strategy and Execution Part Ways

Strategic drift is the quiet decoupling of your strategy from your daily work. Learn the three phases of drift, why standard OKRs fail to stop it, and how experienced operators use a tight cadence and AI to maintain alignment as they scale.

By Michael Koenig 09 Feb 2026
The Real Cost of Strategic Ambiguity

okrs

The Real Cost of Strategic Ambiguity

Strategic ambiguity is a hidden tax on your company's velocity. Learn why leaders choose vague goals, how it creates "decision debt," and the framework operators use to force radical clarity and drive results.

By Michael Koenig 08 Feb 2026
Why Most Leadership Teams Confuse Vision With Direction

operating cadence

Why Most Leadership Teams Confuse Vision With Direction

Vision is a destination, but direction is the path. Learn why most leadership teams fail to bridge the gap between their "North Star" and weekly execution, and how to set a direction that actually drives results.

By Michael Koenig 07 Feb 2026
Strategy Is a Choice, Not a Document

strategy

Strategy Is a Choice, Not a Document

Stop treating strategy as a 50-page slide deck. Real strategy is a set of hard trade-offs that guide daily execution. Learn why your strategy document is failing and how to move toward a choice-based operating system that actually drives results.

By Michael Koenig 06 Feb 2026
The Pre-Work: How to Prepare Your Team to Write OKRs

okrs

The Pre-Work: How to Prepare Your Team to Write OKRs

Stop asking your team to write OKRs in a vacuum. Learn how to provide the strategic context, data, and constraints required to turn OKR planning from a quarterly chore into a competitive advantage for your execution.

By Michael Koenig 04 Feb 2026
The Work Before the Work: Why Your OKR Drafting is Premature

leadership

The Work Before the Work: Why Your OKR Drafting is Premature

Stop wasting time on OKR wording. After 35+ quarters running OKRs, I’ve learned success is won before drafting. Learn the 5 leadership steps—naming direction, surfacing constraints, and choosing a "Quarterly Mode"—to ensure your OKRs reflect reality, not just decorate it.

By Michael Koenig 03 Feb 2026
Confessions of a COO: The Real Reasons OKRs Fail

leadership

Confessions of a COO: The Real Reasons OKRs Fail

I’ve been a COO at multiple public and private companies. I believe in OKRs, but I also know why they rot. It's not because teams don't "get it." It's because leaders avoid the tradeoffs.

By Michael Koenig 29 Jan 2026
The Definitive Guide to Creating Organizational OKRs (2026 Edition)

okr

The Definitive Guide to Creating Organizational OKRs (2026 Edition)

Stop setting goals that collect dust. This 2026 guide covers the exact framework for defining North Star metrics, avoiding "anti-patterns," and using AI to draft perfect OKRs in seconds.

By Michael Koenig 27 Jan 2026
The Bob Iger Method: How to Save Your Annual Planning Strategy

leadership

The Bob Iger Method: How to Save Your Annual Planning Strategy

Haven’t done your annual planning yet? Start now with Disney CEO Bob Iger’s "Simple, Ruthless, Clear" method to set priorities that actually work.

By Michael Koenig 08 Jan 2026
How to Introduce an OKR Framework to Your CEO When They Don't Want It

okr

How to Introduce an OKR Framework to Your CEO When They Don't Want It

Most CEOs resist formal goal‑setting frameworks until they see them work. This article explains how to introduce OKRs gradually - start with simple quarterly goals, demonstrate clarity, and build buy‑in through visible success. Gradual change drives lasting adoption.

By Michael Koenig 12 Dec 2025
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