Business Blog - OKRs and Goal Setting

In his 2018 NY Times bestseller, “Measure What Matters,” John Doerr relates that as the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) methodology continues to gain popularity, more companies are, “adopting robust, dedicated, cloud-based OKR management software.”

Television commercials, YouTube videos, TED Talks, even everyday conversation today seems to be filled with references to “What Matters Most.” The phrase works for any number of applications. We think this focus on What Matters originated with John Doerr’s 2018 NY Times bestseller, “Measure What Matters.”

Recently, Paul R. Niven, noted Author, Strategist, and OKR Consultant sat with Atiim CEO, Kyle Silberbauer, to discuss the evolution of the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) methodology.

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is the modern goal-setting methodology that aligns everyone in the organization to the company’s most important priorities. The protocol, which has garnered massive interest in the past few years, has served as the catalyst for an entirely new segment in SaaS computing; cloud-based OKR Software.

As enticing as the title may be, we first need to establish the best goal setting and tracking methodology. In our book, as it is in John Doerr’s New York Times bestseller, “Measure What Matters,” that methodology is OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).

(Why Free Goal Tracking Fails)

In a TED Talk last year titled, “Why the Secret to Success is Setting the Right Goals,” John Doerr relates how Andy Grove of Intel described his new strategy execution protocol, OKRs:

Since the publication of John Doerr’s NY Times bestseller, “Measure What Matters,” OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) have become increasingly popular.

In his New York Times bestseller, “Measure What Matters,” author John Doerr referred to OKRs as being, “like Swiss Army knives, suited to any environment.”

You’ve read John Doerr’s New York Times bestseller, “Measure What Matters.” The OKR methodology intrigued you to the point of testing the protocol with your teams.

When first implementing OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) many of our clients have difficulty in identifying the most effective initial Objectives. “How do we set the right corporate goals” is one of the most frequently asked questions of our Customer Success Managers during the onboarding process.

One of the most common questions we are asked about OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is if they can be used with KPIs. The answer is yes, and it’s easier than you may think because companies that use OKRs inevitably also use KPIs.

In the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) space, software providers have followed one of two very different paths. Several providers have focused their platforms and services on the CFR (Conversations, Feedback, and Recognition) adjunct to OKRs.

In 2018 venture capitalist John Doerr gave a presentation at a TED conference titled, “Why the Secret to Success is Setting the Right Goals.” That talk has now been translated into nine languages and viewed over one and a half million times.

In his New York Times bestseller “Measure What Matters,” author John Doerr, the self-proclaimed “Johnny Appleseed” of OKRs tells us that, “As the bar for structured goal setting rises, more organizations are adopting robust, dedicated, cloud-based OKR management software.”

In our ongoing “You Asked & We Answer” blog series we’re addressing the role of the Chief Strategy Officer in 2019. As the CSO, your responsibilities include determining the organization’s strategic planning process, while achieving greater transparency, engagement, and accountability throughout the company.

In this edition of “You Asked & We Answer” we’ll provide examples of OKRs you can use to accelerate growth in your company in 2019. These OKR examples, when implemented properly can serve as a launching pad for success in the new year.

This is the first in a series of “You Asked & We Answer” articles. In this issue, we’ll detail how high-performing companies use OKR Key Tactics in setting and monitoring effective goals.

Many of our clients and potential clients have previously used a SMART goal framework to execute strategy. Their first question of us is typically, “What is the difference between SMART goals and OKRs.”

Setting the right Corporate Objectives just might be the difference between success and failure in your organization. When getting started with the OKR methodology, many companies have difficulty in identifying those right Objectives. In this article, we will review the OKR Best Practices for setting and monitoring top corporate objectives.

Invariably, when working with new clients, their first questions are:
“How do we get started setting Objectives?” “What makes the most effective initial OKRs?” “Do you have examples of good OKRs for our various departments?”