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Objectives & Key Results
Table of contents
What is Objectives & Key Results?
Objectives & Key Results is a card from the Team Tactics deck by Pip Decks.
The problem with most goals is that distractions get in the way of achieving them. The OKR framework is designed to give you ‘radical focus’ on achieving an objective. It can be used individually, within a team, or at an organisational level.
Visit pipdecks.com/okr for more advice on how to continue using OKRs after you’ve created them with your team.
When to use Objectives & Key Results
- Lack of focus and direction in the team
- Difficulty in measuring progress towards goals
- Need for alignment across different departments
- Desire to improve team motivation and autonomy
- Scaling challenges in a growing organization
- Frequent distractions derailing goal achievement
- Inconsistent performance tracking
How to use Objectives & Key Results
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Before the meeting, invite everyone to submit their top objective for the team to achieve in the next quarter. An objective is a qualitative and aspirational ‘end-state’.
For example: protect the design team’s maker time.
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Put each objective on a sticky note, put them up on a wall and then Theme Sort.
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Discuss, then Private Vote to find your primary objectives.
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List as many metrics as you can in 10 minutes. They should show you’re closer to achieving the objective.
For example: number of time-wasting tasks found, hours saved, maker-time hours completed.
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Use Theme Sort and Private Vote to group and decide on three metrics.
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Turn your three metrics into key results by setting specific, quantitative targets.
For example: ‘Reduce meetings by x hours a month’ or ‘designers spend x hours on maker time a month’.
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Agree on specific numbers for each key result. You should feel like you have a fifty-fifty chance of achieving each one in the next quarter.
For example: ‘Save 40 hours per month (5/10)’.
