Introduction to OKRs

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is a popular goal-setting framework used by many organizations to achieve their goals. It was first introduced by Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel and popularized by John Doerr in his book “Measure What Matters”. OKRs provide a simple yet effective way to connect your vision with day-to-day actions and stay focused on what matters most.

How OKRs work

To understand how OKRs work, let’s break it down into its  components: Vision and Mission, Objectives,  Key Results, and Weekly Accomplishments.

VISION and MISSION: Vision is the BIG PICTURE of where you want to be, and Mission is the WAY you plan to get there.

OBJECTIVES: Objectives are the SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE GOALS you want to achieve in the next three to twelve months. They should be challenging yet achievable and aligned with the company’s vision and mission.

KEY RESULTS: Key Results are the NUMERICAL METRICS that show your progress towards achieving your objectives. They should be clear, unambiguous, and measurable.

Weekly Accomplishments

The real magic of OKRs happens in the WEEKLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. This is where the rubber meets the road and work gets done. Every accomplishment pushes the Key Result towards the goal. You can call this a Weekly Task if it helps, but at SOKR we call it an accomplishment because it helps clarify what actually gets completed or what is achieved rather than keeping it vague.

Make sure to review this every week and celebrate every accomplishment.

Regular Reviews

REGULAR REVIEWS become the CONTROL MECHANISM that ensures progress towards the goals and the ultimate vision. By reviewing and adjusting your OKRs on a regular basis, you can stay focused on what matters most and make progress towards your goals.

The REVIEW CADENCE for OKRs is:-

Period	Review item
Annual	Mission / Annual Objectives
Quarterly	Objectives and Key Results
Weekly	Key Results and Weekly Accomplishments

Achieving Alignment using OKRs

In addition to helping individuals and teams achieve their goals, OKRs can also help achieve ALIGNMENT among team members. When everyone is working towards the same objectives, it creates a sense of shared purpose and accountability. It also helps prioritise tasks and eliminate distractions, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, OKRs provide a simple framework for achieving your goals. By connecting your big picture vision with day-to-day actions and regularly reviewing your progress, you can stay focused and make progress towards what matters most. OKRs help achieve alignment and ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives. So, start using OKRs today and see the impact it has on your team’s productivity and success.