{"id":12628,"date":"2024-08-29T21:28:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T21:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collegeguide.co.za\/?page_id=12628"},"modified":"2024-08-29T21:28:17","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T21:28:17","slug":"okrs-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/okrs-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"OKRS Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are OKRs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>OKR stands for objectives and key results. It\u2019s a goal-setting methodology designed to push your team toward your biggest goals and help you monitor your progress in reaching them.\u00a0<\/p><div class=\"forms-atf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"forms-45664238\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads atf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"8381596201\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Humor us while we give you a quick history lesson. The origin of OKRs is rooted in the \u201cManagement By Objectives\u201d system that was founded by consultant and author, Peter Drucker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Andrew Grove, the former CEO of Intel, then took the system and put it into a simpler form that answered two core questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Where do I want to go?<\/li><li>How will I pace myself to get there?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Having absorbed a lot of knowledge from Grove, an investor and venture capitalist named John Doerr presented this system to the co-founders of Google, who are frequently credited with popularizing OKR<a href=\"http:\/\/library.gv.com\/how-google-sets-goals-okrs-a1f69b0b72c7\">s<\/a>. Since then, they\u2019ve become commonplace in a lot of organizations \u2013 both small and large.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Where do I want to go?<br>How will I pace myself to get there?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, what\u2019s an objective?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the name indicates, OKRs are split into two main pieces: objectives and key results. Let\u2019s talk about the objectives piece first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep this simple, think of the objective as the goal that you\u2019re setting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With your team, you\u2019ll brainstorm objectives by asking, \u201cWhat are the most important needles we need to move this quarter?\u201d Yep, that\u2019s a clue: OKRs are typically set on a quarterly basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that objectives should be high-level, qualitative statements that are aspirational \u2013 not tasks or granular outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EXAMPLE OBJECTIVE:<\/strong> Launch a new employee portal by the end of the quarter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">And what about key results?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>OKRs themselves might not be inherently measurable. That\u2019s the job of your key results, measurable outcomes that indicate you&#8217;ve achieved your objective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t make the mistake of confusing key results with tasks and to-dos. This is about identifying outcomes, not things for your team to get done. So, make sure you\u2019re that you\u2019re always pointing back to a measurable result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EXAMPLE KEY RESULT:<\/strong> Shipping the portal increases employee feedback scores by 25%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why use OKRs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn\u2019t a popularity contest. But, if it were, OKRs would be winning. You may have heard that tons of big-name companies \u2013 including Google, Netflix, Ahnheuser-Busch, Adobe, Samsung, and even us at Atlassian \u2013 use them for goal-setting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, if name-dropping isn\u2019t enough to convince you, there are plenty of other reasons to use OKRs, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Greater alignment:<\/strong> Everyone is on the same page about goals and success indicators<\/li><li><strong>Improved flexibility:<\/strong> Since OKRs are set quarterly, those shorter goal cycles allow more wiggle room<\/li><li><strong>Boosted accountability:<\/strong> Everybody knows exactly how success will be measured and who is responsible for making it happen<\/li><li><strong>Increased focus:<\/strong> OKRs are thoughtful and well-defined, which boosts focus on the goals that really matter<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With those awesome perks, it\u2019s easy to see why OKRs are beloved by so many successful and rapidly growing organizations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you set OKRs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You want to join the ranks of those teams and companies who are relentlessly pursuing their goals (because who wouldn\u2019t?). Here\u2019s how to go about it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by pulling together a brainstorming session with your team to identify what you most want to achieve.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s probably going to be tons of ideas flying around, and likely some debate, about what your objectives should be. This is an instance where the more isn\u2019t the merrier. We recommend distilling them\u00a0down to no more than three to five\u00a0objectives for the quarter. You\u2019ll also want no more than three key results assigned to each objective so you don\u2019t add confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, keep in mind that OKRs are a better fit for loftier, longer-term goals. You\u2019re not going to use this system to tackle one task on your daily to-do list or a team project that\u2019s wrapping up tomorrow. That\u2019d be way too cumbersome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With those nuts and bolts in place, let\u2019s briefly walk through the steps you and your team will follow to set OKRs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #1: Share the basics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If this is your first time using OKRs, a lot of this is going to be new to you and to your team members. Save some time at the start to teach your team about the process and terminology so that they\u2019re able to constructively add to the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #2: Set your objectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that everybody\u2019s familiar with the basics, ask the team to brainstorm what big rocks you need to move in the quarter. (Try mind mapping!) Give everyone some time to write their ideas on sticky notes and stick them at the front of the room. When that\u2019s done, group similar ideas together and have an open conversation to refine ideas and land on three to five objectives that are most worth focusing on right now.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EXAMPLE OBJECTIVE:<\/strong> Create infographics for all blog posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #3: Identify your key results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You have your objectives, so now it\u2019s time for the team to think about what results you would see and measure if you actually reached that goal. Those should be your key results. Remember, you don\u2019t want more than three for each objective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EXAMPLE KEY RESULT #1:<\/strong> Infographics improve the user\u2019s time spent on page by 10%.&nbsp;<br><strong>EXAMPLE KEY RESULT #2:<\/strong> Infographics are pinned on Pinterest at least 100 times each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #4: Check yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The groundwork is done, so now it\u2019s time for a gut check. Look at the objectives and key results you\u2019ve come up with. Are they unrealistic? Or are they too easy? Do you have too many? Or not enough? This is your chance to make some changes before finalizing those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #5: Schedule your monthly checkpoints<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like any other goal-setting method, OKRs aren\u2019t set it and forget it. You should be meeting with your team monthly to check in on how you\u2019re tracking toward your objective by giving each key result a predicted end-of-quarter score. OKRs are scored on a sliding scale between 0 and 1 that indicates whether you missed, came close to, or hit your target for the key result. So, for example, if you\u2019ve only improved the user\u2019s average time spent on a single blog post by 3%, you\u2019d score that key result at a 0.3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you stick to your OKRs?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whew! Your OKRs are set. The hard work is over, right? Not quite. Now you and your team actually need to stick to them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s where that magic genie would really come in handy&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But just in case he\u2019s a no-show, here are a few strategies you can use to increase buy-in and commitment to those goals:<\/p><div class=\"forms-content\" id=\"forms-2883533227\"><div style=\"width: 300px; padding: 20px; margin: 0 auto; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">\r\n    <p style=\"font-size: 16px; margin: 0 0 10px;\">Need Information or Confused about Something ? <\/p>\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/onlineapplications.co.za\/ask\/\" style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #007BFF; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; transition: background-color 0.3s;\">Ask a Question<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"forms-btf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"forms-1563400164\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads btf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"5513273173\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Involve your team in the process:<\/strong> If the above steps didn\u2019t clue you in, setting your OKRs should be a collaborative process with your team. These goals shouldn\u2019t be handed down from on high.<\/li><li><strong>Assign owners:<\/strong> Every key result should be assigned an owner, so that everybody knows who\u2019s responsible for what. It adds clarity, while also boosting accountability.<\/li><li><strong>Don\u2019t skip your check-in sessions:<\/strong> Things get busy, and you\u2019d rather spend time working toward those goals than checking in on them. Resist that temptation! Those check-in sessions are important for proactively swerving around problems and monitoring your progress.<\/li><li><strong>Be patient:<\/strong> Your OKRs might not be perfect the first time. The good news is that you\u2019ll set them quarterly, so you\u2019ll refine the process before too long.<\/li><\/ul>\n<div class=\"forms-cpc\" id=\"forms-3335400702\"><hr>\n<h1>Did You Know : Top 15 Free Online Learning Platforms<\/h1>\n\n<ol>\n  <li>\n    <strong>Free Online Education Degrees : Coursera:<\/strong>\n    <p>Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer a wide range of courses. While many courses are free, a fee is often required for certification.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Free Online Education Degrees: edX:<\/strong>\n    <p>Founded by MIT and Harvard, edX offers high-quality courses from top universities and institutions around the world. Certificates are available for a fee.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Free Online Education Degrees : Khan Academy:<\/strong>\n    <p>Khan Academy provides free educational content in various subjects, especially mathematics and science, using instructional videos and practice exercises.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Free Online Education Degrees : Udacity:<\/strong>\n    <p>Udacity focuses on tech-related courses and nanodegree programs, offering free content as well as more in-depth paid programs.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Free Online Education Degrees : MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW):<\/strong>\n    <p>MIT OCW provides a vast array of MIT's course content for free, covering a wide range of disciplines.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Free Online Education Degrees : Harvard Extension School:<\/strong>\n    <p>Harvard Extension School offers a selection of free online courses. While some courses are free, others may require payment for a certificate.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Free Online Education Degrees: Stanford Online:<\/strong>\n    <p>Stanford Online offers a variety of free courses in different disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and business.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses : Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI):<\/strong>\n    <p>OLI offers free online courses and resources designed to improve learning outcomes through research-based methodologies.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses : FutureLearn:<\/strong>\n    <p>FutureLearn partners with universities and institutions to offer a diverse range of free online courses. Certificates are available for a fee.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses: Alison:<\/strong>\n    <p>Alison offers a wide range of free online courses, including diploma and certificate programs, covering various subjects.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses: Open Yale Courses:<\/strong>\n    <p>Yale University provides free access to a selection of introductory courses through Open Yale Courses.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses : UC Berkeley Online:<\/strong>\n    <p>UC Berkeley offers free online courses on a variety of subjects, ranging from computer science to humanities.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses  : Google Digital Garage:<\/strong>\n    <p>Google Digital Garage provides free courses on digital skills, including online marketing, data analysis, and more.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses : Codecademy:<\/strong>\n    <p>Codecademy offers free coding courses, interactive exercises, and coding projects to help individuals learn programming languages.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <strong>Best Free Online Courses : LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com):<\/strong>\n    <p>LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of video courses on professional development, technology, and creative skills. It offers a free trial period.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are OKRs? OKR stands for objectives and key results. It\u2019s a goal-setting methodology designed to push your team toward your biggest goals and help you monitor your progress in reaching them.\u00a0 Humor us while we give you a quick history lesson. The origin of OKRs is rooted in the \u201cManagement By Objectives\u201d system that &#8230; <a title=\"OKRS Guide\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/okrs-guide\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about OKRS Guide\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12628","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12628"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12628\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forms24.co.za\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}