OKRs for All

CHAPTER 1Core Concepts: What Are OKRs?

In this chapter, I will provide a breakdown of what OKRs are, and how successful businesses use them to address the challenges of visibility and alignment, the need to drive results faster, and improve employee engagement.

What Do OKRs Do?

OKR is a proven goal‐setting framework for creating alignment and focus and building a highly productive and engaged work culture to drive your business outcomes.

OKRs align your entire organization to strategy, shifting focus from output—the everyday work of your team—to outcomes, which are the impact of that work. This mindset shift keeps your team highly engaged with a clear sense of purpose and understanding of how everyone is contributing to forward momentum.

OKRs sit at the intersection between purpose and strategy and execution.

Your mission is the light at the top of your lighthouse, guiding everything you do, closely tied to your values and culture. These make up your organization's purpose.

For instance, if you are a gaming company, your mission (why your business exists) might be “To educate every child using games.” Your vision (picture of the future) might be “To make every game an educational game.” Your values and culture would reflect this by favoring values like “Educate at every touchpoint” and “Learn every day.”

Your strategic priorities, objectives, and key results make up the ...