OKRs For Dummies

Chapter 3

First Things First: Identify Why You Are Creating OKRs

IN THIS CHAPTER

Finding out how not to start your OKRs implementation

Determining your “why” for OKRs

I have a lot of management heroes, and among them is the late Stephen Covey, author of the mega bestselling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey penned a number of other books during his career, including one called First Things First, in which he tells the story of the big rocks. Essentially it goes like this: Imagine you have a glass jar that you’re trying to fill with rocks, pebbles, and sand. How can you fit them all into the jar? Starting with the fine-grain sand will fill the bottom of the jar and leave no room for the rocks and pebbles, so that approach is out. If you put the pebbles in first, you may have room for the sand, but forget about squeezing the rocks in. It turns out that the only way to get everything into the jar is to start by putting the big rocks in, followed by the pebbles, and then finally pouring in the sand to fill the spaces in between.

Covey used this simple parable to illustrate a critical principle everyone should follow: Begin with the most important things — the big rocks — whether in your day, your week, or your life. When it comes to OKRs, the big rock, the ...