Ideas are easy. Execution is everything.
OKRs stands for Objectives and Key Results. It is one of my favorite frameworks for organizing goals and priorities. OKRs can be effective for your personal development or for guiding a global organization.
OKRs originated over 20 years ago at Intel from Andy Grove but became more popularized through its usage at Google. They share many similarities to 4DX but are lighter weight and thus a more adaptable system.
Objectives identify to goal to achieve. They’re usually one sentence, specific and actionable.
Key Results describe how the objectives are achieved. Like objectives, they are specific, quantifiable, and time-bound; think SMART goals. When reviewing a key result, it should be immediately apparent whether or not it has been reached.
Objectives tend to last longer, whereas key results usually change each cycle.
Ideas are easy. Execution is everything.
– JOHN DOERR
In his book Measure What Matters, John Doerr describes four superpowers for using OKRs.
Whether it’s an individual or an organization, we’re usually trying to do too much. We’re pulled in too many directions, trying to do too many things simultaneously.
People are more effective when they know what’s important and where to focus.
Focus means saying “no” to many ideas and potential goals, which doesn’t mean lowering the bar to try and do less. We are still aiming high and stretching ourselves but doing it in a targeted way. Saying “no” to secondary goals produces the highest impact on the primary goals.
These are similar to concepts we explored in setting Wildly Important Goals in 4DX.
You want your life to have meaning and impact.
What if your everyday work and life not only felt natural and intuitive but also aligned with your priorities and positively impacted those around you?
The OKR for every team in an organization should be transparent to the whole organization, and it allows contextual awareness of points of synergy or dependencies.
OKRs can cascade down from the top or aggregate up from the bottom. The best is when some of both core directional priorities flow down from the top, and innovative new ideas are bubbling up from the implementation level.
This two-way flow of priorities creates significant alignment within the organization.
High-functioning teams thrive on creative tension between top-down and bottom-up goal setting, a mix of aligned and unaligned OKRs.
– MEASURE WHAT MATTERS
Teams are now working on the same things, bringing their best to pull in the same direction. Suddenly teams, who were postured as competing with each other, are now sharing resources and working together collaboratively.
We regularly and transparently grade OKRs. Because they are measurable, it should be clear if we’ve met that measure. The cadence can vary depending on your context, and if the whole OKR period is three months, you may report monthly.
I like to use a combination of colors and decimals, which I took from Google’s example in Measure What Matters.
Percentages seem natural, but they often serve as placeholders for poor estimates. Think about that project that’s been 80% done for the past month.
For example, consider this KR: produce seven new training videos by March 1. Depending on the possible scores, the team will have different responses.
Tools become important here if OKRs are going to scale across an organization.
When a hundred teams keep their OKRs in separate docs, nobody has time to open and read through all of them. Dynamic, searchable, cloud-based tools work best here.
It’s beneficial if it can be the same tool you use to organize your daily work.
Even for personal goal setting, I need to record my OKRs so that I frequently review and engage with them. Otherwise, I will get distracted; move my focus elsewhere and miss out on the potential impact of the OKR I took time to craft.
If you share a goal and nobody sees, is the system truly transparent?
– MEASURE WHAT MATTERS
qWe all have those stories of when we personally or a team we were on did more than anyone expected. Teams can often accomplish more than they think they can.
OKRs should stretch us.
When setting the objectives, we should ask, “what objective, if achieved, would fundamentally change the game we’re playing?” Sometimes we’ve already ruled out these objectives because we labeled them as impossible.
What would it take to make it possible? Well, that’s what we build the key results around. A good rule of thumb is to set the goals high enough you only expect to meet them 70% of the time.
Next Steps to use OKRs.
OKRs feels like a sweet spot to me of lightweight but fully integrated. I use it for my personal goal-setting, and I’m working to see it implemented in the organizations I work with.
The framework is simple to learn and communicate but requires a high level of commitment to succeed. If you’re interested in learning more about OKRs, I suggest reading John Doerr’s book Measure What Matters or checking out his website.
If you want help to identify objectives or key results for your next project, personal or professional, signup for one of the free 30-minute coaching sessions I offer each month.
Goal setting is the process of identifying specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives that you want to achieve. It involves determining what you want to accomplish, defining clear objectives, and developing a plan for achieving those objectives.
By setting goals, you can clarify your priorities, focus your efforts, measure progress, and ultimately achieve success.
Goal setting is an important skill that can help you in both your personal and professional life, enabling you to make progress towards your desired outcomes and improve your overall performance.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Goal setting is important for several reasons:
In summary, goal setting is important because it provides direction and focus, increases motivation, enhances productivity and performance, provides a sense of purpose and meaning, enables personal growth and development, and increases confidence and self-esteem.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
There are many benefits of setting goals, including:
Overall, setting goals is an important tool for personal and professional growth, enabling you to achieve success and realize your full potential.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Absolutely, goal setting can indeed help you find direction in your life. Goals act like a compass, guiding you towards the things you want to achieve and helping you determine the path to get there. Here's how goal setting can provide direction:
So, if you're feeling lost or unsure about the direction of your life, setting some goals might be a good place to start. Remember to make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to increase your chances of success.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Setting goals is an important process, but there are several common mistakes that people often make. Here are some of the most common mistakes:
By avoiding these common mistakes and setting clear, realistic, and aligned goals, you can increase your chances of achieving your desired outcomes.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Goal setting is a powerful tool that can lead to success in both your personal and professional life. Setting and achieving goals has been a significant part of my personal and professional life.
When done right, goal setting can act as your personal GPS, guiding you toward success in both life and work. With clear objectives, you can navigate your path and make consistent, intentional decisions that lead toward the life you want to live.
Here's why goal setting is a game-changer:
But for this to happen, your goals must be clear, actionable and your own.
Below, I’ll give a more in-depth look at five benefits, three pitfalls, and an opportunity I believe will help you not only set but also achieve your goal.
Let’s get started. Here's how setting goals can be your ultimate success tool:
Aligning your goals with your values and passions is crucial to ensure long-term motivation and satisfaction. Here are some steps to help you do this:
Remember, when your goals align with your values and passions, you're more likely to feel fulfilled and satisfied when you reach them. It also makes the journey towards achieving your goals more enjoyable and rewarding.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Absolutely, goal setting can indeed help you find direction in your life. Goals act like a compass, guiding you towards the things you want to achieve and helping you determine the path to get there. Here's how goal setting can provide direction:
So, if you're feeling lost or unsure about the direction of your life, setting some goals might be a good place to start. Remember to make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to increase your chances of success.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Prioritizing goals can be a challenging task, but it's crucial to ensure you're working on what matters most. Here are some steps to help you prioritize your goals:
By following these steps, you can create a clear roadmap for achieving your goals based on their importance, urgency, resource requirements, and alignment with your overall life objectives.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Overcoming obstacles is an important part of achieving your goals. Here are some strategies you can use to overcome obstacles and stay on track:
By using these strategies, you can overcome obstacles that may prevent you from achieving your goals and stay on track towards your desired outcomes.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Prioritizing goals can be a challenging task, but it's crucial to ensure you're working on what matters most. Here are some steps to help you prioritize your goals:
By following these steps, you can create a clear roadmap for achieving your goals based on their importance, urgency, resource requirements, and alignment with your overall life objectives.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
The frequency with which you should review your goals can depend on the nature of the goals themselves. However, a common recommendation is to review them regularly to ensure you're making progress and staying on track. Here are some general guidelines:
Remember, these are just guidelines. The key is to find a review frequency that works best for you and your specific goals. Regular review ensures you stay accountable, track your progress, and make necessary adjustments to your plans.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
The number of goals you should have at one time can vary greatly depending on your individual capacity, resources, and circumstances. However, a common recommendation is to focus on a few key goals at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and ensure that you can devote sufficient time and energy to each goal.
The truth is, fewer goals mean more focus. AND more achieving.
So, how many goals should you aim for?
It depends on your timeline.
If we’re talking about annual goals, then maybe 8-10 or just enough to cover different areas of your life—like your health, career, and relationships—without leaving you overwhelmed.
8-10 Annual goals will break down to about 2-3 goals a quarter, which allows you to focus your attention and energy long enough to make a significant impact.
Now, if we’re talking about daily goals, we teach in our Goal Focus Coaching Program to have no more than 3 priority actions a day. That may not seem like a lot, but when you stack it day after day, it has over 1,000 priority actions for the year. That impact is huge.
Having a limited number of goals allows you to focus and make meaningful progress. If you spread yourself too thin across many goals, you may find it difficult to make significant progress in any area.
Remember, it's not about the quantity of goals, but the quality of your focus and effort towards achieving them. It's better to fully commit to a few important goals than to juggle many goals without making substantial progress.
Keep in mind that everyone's capacity for goal-setting is different, and what works best for you might be different from what works for someone else. It's crucial to find a balance that feels manageable and aligns with your personal aspirations and lifestyle.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Goal setting is just the start. Goal achieving is what we all really want, and keeping track is where the magic happens.
At Everyday Design, we want to help you build momentum toward your goals. When you begin stacking daily wins, something magical happens—you feel progress. This momentum fuels your focus and commitment, even through setbacks and detours.
If you want to measure progress toward your goals, follow these steps.
Below I break down each step into more detail to help you stay on the path to success!
Celebrating your achievements is an important part of the goal-setting process. It helps to reinforce positive behavior, keeps you motivated, and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Here are some ways to celebrate achieving your goals.
Remember, the celebration should be proportionate to the size and significance of the achievement. Small victories deserve recognition too, but they might not warrant the same level of celebration as larger, more significant achievements. The key is to find a way to celebrate that feels rewarding and meaningful to you.
Learn more about how to effectively set goals.
Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.
Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:
Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.
There are several different styles of team leadership, including:
Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.
There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:
Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.
A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:
Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.
A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:
Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:
Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:
Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Are you striving to align your goals with your values and passions?
Wondering how to measure progress or break down large goals into manageable steps?
Are you ready to transform your dreams into reality?
Our Goal Focus Guide + Worksheet is designed for you to discover how effective goal setting can transform your personal and professional life.
Download the Goal Focus Worksheet