Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)

This book is all about the idea and practical application of a method of connected goal setting called "Objectives and Key Results". It reads more like an advertisement than a "how to". It sells you on OKRs as a concept over and over, then brings in popular names to sell you on both it and them (by way of their success they're crediting to OKRs).

The Book In Two Sentences

<aside> ✅ Your main focus should be 3-5 Objectives, each broken down into 3-5 SMART Key Results. These Objectives and Key Results should be reviewed and renewed regularly.

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The Process

I'm going to use "you" in this section to refer to either an individual, or a group within a company.

  1. You should have 3-5 top-level Objectives. These are your main focus. These are what's most important. If you're focusing on >5 things, you're focused on nothing.
  2. Each of these 3-5 Objectives should have underneath it a set of 3-5 Key Results. These key results should be SMART, number-based goals.
    1. The Objective should be met by achieving all Key Results.
    2. Where possible, pair a Key Result based on quantity with one based on quality.
    3. Key Results should have Red/Yellow/Green grading criteria.
  3. OKRs are typically set and renewed quarterly, but there's nothing saying it has to be that way. They should be a prime focus and reviewed bi-weekly at a minimum.
  4. Both the Objectives and Key Results should be written as though they were going to be read and interpreted by other people. This forces you to be specific and articulate.

That's about it. That's about 8% of the book by volume.

The 4 Superpowers

Focus

OKRs force you to decide what is important, and realize what's not.

Alignment

OKRs in an organization ensure a common focus. This is also known as alignment. Across an organization, aligning higher level Key Results with lower level Objectives ensure that the ground troops are working toward what the execs believe to be important.

Commitment

Making your OKRs SMART and public is a show of commitment. Continually reviewing progress against them (see the next section) renews this commitment.