The principles behind OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are designed to help organizations set clear, measurable, and ambitious goals while ensuring alignment and focus. OKR principles are:
- Focus on What Matters Most: OKRs emphasize setting a small number of high-priority objectives (usually 3-5 per quarter).
- Ambition with Achievability: OKRs encourage setting stretch goals that push the organization to aim higher.
- Measurable Key Results: Key Results are specific, quantifiable, and time-bound. They define what success looks like and allow progress to be objectively tracked.
- Alignment and Transparency: OKRs should be set at various levels (company, team, individual) and be aligned across the organization.
- Regular Check-ins and Updates: OKRs are typically reviewed regularly (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly).
- Commitment to Results: OKRs are focused on outcomes rather than activities. The emphasis is on achieving meaningful results, not just completing tasks.
- Transparency, Ownership, and Accountability: Everyone in the organization should have visibility into the OKRs set at all levels.
- Stretch Goals and Learning from Failure: OKRs should be ambitious enough to stretch the organization, but not every objective needs to be fully achieved.
- Short-Term Focus: OKRs are generally set on a quarterly or annual basis.
- Inspiration and Motivation: While OKRs are focused on measurable results, they should also inspire and engage employees.