4 Principles for Truly Effective OKRs

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a popular tool for setting goals and measuring progress. OKRs are typically ambitious and may feel somewhat uncomfortable to some people. This is because OKRs are designed to challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone. If OKRs aren’t ambitious enough and companies need to think bigger. OKRs are set and stated publicly so that everyone in the organization can see what others are working on. This transparency is intended to promote collaboration and accountability. The goal of OKR is to continuously improve the organization & help businesses reach new levels of success.

Here are some Principles for Truly Effective OKRs: 

1. Check In Regularly- OKRs might be all the rage right now, but it’s not enough to just have them. You have to do something with them. At the very least, that means checking in on your OKR scores once a month. If you’re not doing that, then what’s the point? Just having OKRs isn’t going to magically make you more successful. You have to put in the work to track your progress and make sure you’re on track to meet your goals. Otherwise, you might as well not bother. So if you’ve been neglecting your OKRs, it’s time to get back on track. Start by scheduling a weekly or monthly check-in to review your progress and see where you need to improve.

2. Set & communicate Stretch Goals carefully- Setting stretch goals is an important part of any organization’s goal-setting process. But it’s also important to communicate stretch goals carefully to the teams that will be delivering on them. If employees are setting stretch goals, you should expect them to deliver on about 70% of their stated OKRs. Stretch goals are a great way to challenge teams and help them reach their full potential. But depending on them too heavily can lead to disappointment if they’re not met. So it’s essential to set and communicate stretch goals carefully to ensure everyone is on the same page.

3. OKRs should be measured & tracked continuously- OKRs can be used to track progress on anything from product development to sales targets. The key is to make sure that OKRs are measured and tracked continuously so that businesses can adjust their course as needed. This continuous feedback loop is what makes OKRs so effective. Without it, businesses would be operating in the dark, with no clear sense of whether or not they are on track to achieve their objectives. By OKR tracking, businesses can ensure that they always have a clear picture of their progress and can make necessary adjustments along the way.

4. OKRs should be cross-functional and stable- One key factor in OKRs is that objectives should be cross-functional, meaning that they should involve multiple departments or teams within an organization. This ensures that everyone is working towards the same goal and that no one is siloed. Additionally, objectives should be stable, meaning that they do not change frequently. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and prevents needless confusion. 

By following the above principles, organizations can set OKRs that are more effective & likely to lead to success. OKRs can be tough to keep track of, but Huminos makes it easy. With this software, you can quickly and easily see how your team is performing against your objectives. Moreover, this software is designed to help you identify and resolve any issues that may arise. So if you’re looking for an OKR solution that will make your life easier, look no further than Huminos.