OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

What It Is

OKRs are a goal-setting framework that creates focus, alignment, and a learning cycle for teams and organizations. The core insight: set one ambitious objective per quarter with 2-3 measurable key results, then check in weekly to maintain focus.

The key shift: Move from tracking activities ("What are we doing?") to tracking outcomes ("What progress are we making toward our goals?").

OKRs are a vitamin, not a medicine. They supercharge companies that already have their fundamentals in place (strategy, empowered teams, psychological safety). They won't fix broken organizations - they'll just reveal what's broken.

Credit: Originated by Andy Grove at Intel. Popularized by John Doerr who brought it to Google. Christina Wodtke's Radical Focus provides the most practical implementation guidance.

When to Use It

Use OKRs when you need to: