How to set OKRs with your team and use them to deliver the right goals quicker and better will make you and your team a lot more successful. Using the OKRs or Objectives and Key Results system helps prioritisation, creates a focus on results rather than activity and aligns everyone’s efforts to deliver the right goals.

I share 6 steps for how to set OKRs with your team and achieve the right goals.
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What are OKRs in business? The OKR system is an approach to goal setting that creates visibility, goal alignment and help improve team performance. The objective is the what you want to accomplish. The key results part is 1-5 projects or initiatives that talk to HOW we achieve that objective. That is the OKR basics or OKRs explained.

To set OKRs, the first step is to understand the wider business goals (or your business unit or functional goals). Alignment of goals means everyone is moving and working in the same direction. This is very important to maximise effort towards achieving common goals and in performance management. 

Then you can set team OKRs. How to set OKRs for your team starts with considering how your team can best contribute to achieving the wider goals and what areas of responsibility and activity your team covers. I have included OKR examples in the podcast.

Once you have chosen your objectives, you should work with the team to set the key results via a small number of projects. These need to be specific, realistic and the results to be achieved very clear. 

Assign who is doing what, starting with the leader of each project. Don’t spread your team too thin otherwise you will not achieve your goals. Focus of effort is really important. 

Goals are great but without constant attention, they are quickly forgotten. Create visibility of the OKRs. Keep referring to them, tracking them, talking about progress. Don’t forget to praise great results. 

Finally, constantly follow-up with your team and provide help, support and coaching to ensure they achieve the results desired as quickly and painlessly as possible. This is a vital step that too many managers spend too little time on. Work alongside your team to deliver the best results you can as a group!

If you have any questions on “How to Set OKRs With Your Team and Deliver the Right Goals Quicker”, please email me at [email protected] and I will get back to you.

Jess Coles

Enhance.training