Podcast Summary: Chief Change Officer Episode #227 – Sara Lobkovich: Why Playing Life on Hard Mode Might Be Your Best Advantage – Part Two

Introduction

In Episode #227 of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan engages in an insightful conversation with Sara Lobkovich, a strategic planning expert and author dedicated to democratizing strategy for individuals across various cognitive and cultural backgrounds. Building upon the foundations laid in Part One, this episode delves deeper into Sara's motivations, her books, target audience, objectives, and overarching vision for empowering strategists from all walks of life.

Guest Background: Sara Lobkovich

Sara Lobkovich is an accomplished strategist and author who has transitioned through numerous career phases, guided by diverse role models. With over 17 career transitions, Sara has honed her expertise in strategic planning and goal setting, culminating in her mission to make strategy accessible to everyone, regardless of their neurotypical status or cultural background. Her work primarily focuses on No BS Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), offering practical tools and methodologies for effective strategic planning.

Main Discussion Points

1. Understanding Strategy Beyond Traditional Definitions (00:03:13 - 00:10:11)

   Sara begins by sharing her personal journey in the field of strategy. She explains her initial attempts to break into big agency strategy consulting, which were unsuccessful due to various factors such as lack of prestigious affiliations and the right experience. Despite these setbacks, Sara gained valuable insights by working with consultants from major agencies like McKinsey and Bain, understanding the traditional strategic landscape.

   Notable Quote:

   “Being a strategist is not just being the smartest person in the room. It’s being someone who is curious and has a toolkit of questions that help uncover facts and observations that then spark insight and let us develop ideas.”
   — Sara Lobkovich [03:18]

   Sara emphasizes that true strategy lies in asking the right questions and fostering a collaborative environment where diverse ideas can flourish, contrasting the stereotypical image of strategists as polished individuals commanding a room.

2. The Evolution of Sara's Book: From No BS OKRs to "You Are a Strategist" (00:10:31 - 00:26:41)

   The conversation transitions to Sara's book, initially conceptualized as a guide on No BS Objectives and Key Results. Due to overwhelming positive feedback, Sara expanded the book to encompass a broader philosophical approach to strategic planning, leading to the creation of "You Are a Strategist." This title reflects her commitment to empowering individuals to recognize and harness their innate strategic abilities, regardless of their professional background or cognitive wiring.

   Notable Quote:

   “This book is a love letter to me earlier in my career. But I know I'm not alone. I know there are so many other people who are having experiences like I did.”
   — Sara Lobkovich [20:19]

   Sara elaborates on the dual nature of her books: one serves as a practical workbook focused on actionable exercises for goal setting, while the other delves into the philosophical underpinnings of modern, human-centered strategic planning. Her aim is to bridge the gap between neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals, providing tools that are accessible and effective for all.

3. Target Audience and Inclusivity in Strategic Planning (00:19:05 - 00:26:41)

   Sara dedicates her book to a diverse group including introverts, individuals with ADHD, those on the autism spectrum, trauma survivors, strategy-brained professionals, frustrated change-makers, revolutionaries, and thinker-doers. This dedication underscores her mission to create inclusive strategic frameworks that accommodate various cognitive and cultural backgrounds.

   Notable Quote:

   “My hope is that this book is a way that people who haven't necessarily been served by other by the mainstream business press can find that they belong in any room they want to put themselves in, including in the CEO, chair in the organization that they want to work in.”
   — Sara Lobkovich [20:19]

   By addressing the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals and those from non-traditional backgrounds, Sara seeks to democratize strategy, making it a universal tool for personal and professional growth.

4. Balancing Specificity with Broad Business Value (00:26:41 - 00:33:57)

   Vince commends Sara for her ability to balance speaking to a niche audience while delivering tangible business value. Sara acknowledges the challenges of entering the competitive business book market, where mainstream publications often cater to broader audiences for scalability. However, her focused approach aims to serve those who feel marginalized by conventional business literature.

   Notable Quote:

   “We all have gaps in our heuristics. And so this is an effort to give people an option for a coherent set of agreed heuristics around simple strategic planning and goal setting.”
   — Sara Lobkovich [28:46]

   Sara highlights the importance of shared language and agreed-upon definitions within organizations to enhance performance and reduce cognitive load. Her books provide structured frameworks and tools that foster clear communication and effective strategic planning, benefiting both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals.

Insights and Conclusions

• Democratizing Strategy: Sara's work is a testament to the belief that strategic thinking is not reserved for a select few. By providing accessible tools and frameworks, she empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in meaningful strategic planning.

• Inclusivity and Neurodiversity: Recognizing the strengths and challenges of neurodivergent individuals, Sara's methodologies cater to varying cognitive styles, ensuring that everyone can harness their strategic potential without conforming to traditional norms.

• Practical Tools with Philosophical Foundations: Sara successfully marries practical exercises with deeper philosophical insights, offering a holistic approach to strategy that is both actionable and thought-provoking.

• Empowerment Through Questions: Central to Sara's philosophy is the power of inquiry. By encouraging the right questions, she fosters environments where innovative solutions can emerge organically, enhancing both individual and organizational growth.

• Bridging Knowledge Gaps: Sara addresses the often overlooked gaps in mainstream business education by providing coherent heuristics and shared languages, facilitating better teamwork and goal alignment within organizations.

Notable Quotes

1. Sara Lobkovich [03:18]:

   “Being a strategist is not just being the smartest person in the room. It’s being someone who is curious and has a toolkit of questions that help uncover facts and observations that then spark insight and let us develop ideas.”

2. Sara Lobkovich [10:31]:

   “I just got the manuscript back from its first proofread and I started reading it this weekend and I think I got to page 10 or 12 and then started to cry because it's the book that I wish I had earlier in my career to help me know that I wasn't alone in my career.”

3. Sara Lobkovich [20:19]:

   “This book is dedicated to introverts, people with adhd, those on the autism spectrum, trauma survivors, strategy, brained square packs, frustrated change makers, revolutionaries, a combination of rebels and revolutionaries, and lastly, thinker doers.”

4. Sara Lobkovich [28:46]:

   “We all have gaps in our heuristics. And so this is an effort to give people an option for a coherent set of agreed heuristics around simple strategic planning and goal setting.”

Conclusion

Episode #227 of Chief Change Officer offers a profound exploration into the world of strategic planning through the lens of Sara Lobkovich. By addressing the needs of a diverse audience and providing practical tools grounded in deep human intelligence, Sara champions a more inclusive and effective approach to strategy. Her dedication to democratizing strategic thinking ensures that individuals, regardless of their cognitive or cultural backgrounds, can harness their innate strategic abilities to drive personal and professional transformation. Vince Chan's engaging dialogue with Sara underscores the importance of accessible strategy in today's dynamic and diverse organizational landscapes.