OKRs for All

CHAPTER 15Expect and Prepare for a Challenge

I recently spoke with Derek, who works for a major technology  company. OKRs had been rolled out across Derek's division of the organization, and everyone was excited. Then, the team quickly realized that they weren't going to have what they needed to be successful, but would still be held accountable for their adoption of the process. Derek was brand‐new to the OKR process, and already disappointed in its extra work and clear lack of direction.

I can't count the number of customers we've worked with who reached out because they'd tried to roll out OKRs and had a bit of a rough time for the first couple of quarters. In most cases, my team was able to work with them to uncover the issues plaguing OKR adoption, the subsequent quarter got easier, and, finally, OKR adoption became a natural part of their business rhythm.

Don't lose the excitement as you embark on this journey, but do expect that, like anything else in life, the rollout of this framework will ebb and flow.

OKR Rhythm Fundamentals: The Three Cs: Create, Check‐In, Close

At a high level, the best way to think about OKR rhythms is that they include time to plan, time to execute, and time to reflect. I encourage businesses to invest time and effort into the 3Cs: create, check‐in, and close.

To ensure high adoption of your OKR program, implement the 3Cs from the start and consistently follow this rhythm with each planning cycle. Show this visual when rolling out OKRs to your ...