3 OKR examples for Goal Setting
What are Goal Setting OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Creating impactful OKRs can be a daunting task, especially for newcomers. Shifting your focus from projects to outcomes is key to successful planning.
We have curated a selection of OKR examples specifically for Goal Setting to assist you. Feel free to explore the templates below for inspiration in setting your own goals.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read more about the OKR meaning online.
Best practices for managing your Goal Setting OKRs
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
The #1 role of OKRs is to help you and your team focus on what really matters. Business-as-usual activities will still be happening, but you do not need to track your entire roadmap in the OKRs.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
Tip #2: Commit to the weekly check-ins
Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to get the full value of your OKRs and make your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
Tip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples below). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
Building your own Goal Setting OKRs with AI
While we have some examples below, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. There are 2 options available to you.
- Use our free OKRs generator
- Use Tability, a complete platform to set and track OKRs and initiatives
- including a GPT-4 powered goal generator
Best way to track your Goal Setting OKRs
OKRs without regular progress updates are just KPIs. You'll need to update progress on your OKRs every week to get the full benefits from the framework. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
Most teams should start with a spreadsheet if they're using OKRs for the first time. Then, once you get comfortable you can graduate to a proper OKRs-tracking tool.
If you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
Goal Setting OKRs templates
We've covered most of the things that you need to know about setting good OKRs and tracking them effectively. It's now time to give you a series of templates that you can use for inspiration!
You will find in the next section many different Goal Setting Objectives and Key Results. We've included strategic initiatives in our templates to give you a better idea of the different between the key results (how we measure progress), and the initiatives (what we do to achieve the results).
Hope you'll find this helpful!
OKRs to implement effective and smart goal-setting strategies
- Implement effective and smart goal-setting strategies
- Review and refine goal-setting process after completion of each goal
- Analyze the effectiveness of completed goal
- Identify improvements for future goal-setting process
- Implement identified improvements in next goal plan
- Monitor progress bi-weekly, ensuring 80% goal achievement rate
- Develop report formats for bi-weekly updates
- Schedule bi-weekly progress review meetings
- Create system to track 80% goal achievement rate
- Formulate 2 new, measurable and achievable goals each week
- Determine two realistic, quantifiable goals
- Create plan with steps to achieve each goal
- Brainstorm personal or professional objectives for the week
OKRs to establish an effective goal-setting framework
- Establish an effective goal-setting framework
- Research and identify three solid frameworks for goal-setting by week 2
- Shortlist three effective and commonly used frameworks
- Write a summary of each identified framework
- Conduct online research on various goal-setting frameworks
- Pilot chosen framework on a small project by week 4
- Identify a small project suitable for testing the framework
- Implement chosen framework into the selected project
- Evaluate framework functionality by the end of Week 4
- Refine and finalize framework through stakeholder feedback by week 6
- Gather initial stakeholder opinions on the preliminary framework
- Ensure final framework approval by stakeholders by week 6
- Adjust framework according to stakeholder suggestions
OKRs to increase job productivity through effective goal setting and time management
- Increase job productivity through effective goal setting and time management
- Receive positive feedback from supervisor on improved productivity
- Implement strategies or tools to enhance work efficiency
- Request regular performance reviews from supervisor
- Identify areas for productivity improvements during your work day
- Attend time management training and implement strategies
- Apply learned strategies in daily work routine
- Enroll in a time management training course
- Continually assess and adjust strategies for effectiveness
- Achieve 95% completion rate of weekly tasks
- Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance at the start of the week
- Regularly track task progress throughout the week and adjust plans accordingly
- Allocate specific time frames to each task for focused work sessions
More Goal Setting OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
OKRs to enhance operational efficiency through optimal resource utilization OKRs to successful Business Launch in Africa OKRs to develop and launch a new API for the CAD company OKRs to drive US commercial opportunities expansion OKRs to expand BDR prospecting efforts into new target markets or industry segments OKRs to enhance strategic decision-making skills
OKRs resources
Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the Objectives and Key Results framework.
- To learn: Complete 2024 OKR cheat sheet
- Blog posts: ODT Blog
- Success metrics: KPIs examples