Introducing Evolutionary OKRs

03/08/23 • 24 min

Today, we take a step back and answer the obvious question: what are Evolutionary Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and why are they important?

OKRs are a method for setting collaborative, objectively measurable goals made popular by the book Measure What Matters, which creates enormous excitement about the potential of OKRs, but leaves many teams and leaders frustrating trying to figure out how to implement them.

This episode introduces the Red Currant Collective brand of OKRs: Evolutionary OKRs. Evolutionary OKRs are designed to create meaningful change and help organizations transform and actually do better. Tuning in, you’ll hear about how OKRs started and how they became widely used before we break down the differences between Evolutionary OKRs and other forms of planning. You’ll learn more about the characteristics of great OKRs and how they can benefit both corporate performance and individuals. We further discuss the differences between Objectives and Key Results, the qualities of strong Objectives, what we consider "Textbook Key Results," and examples of both. If you would like an introduction to OKRs to share with your colleagues, your leaders, and other stakeholders, or even just a reminder of the basics for yourself, this episode is for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to what OKRs are and how they became widely used.
The benefits of OKRs for individuals.
Differences between OKRs and other forms of planning.
Characteristics of great OKRs, starting with why they should fit on a page.
Why objectives are directional and key results are measurable.
An example OKR cadence for an organization.
Defining objectives, the qualities of strong objectives, and some examples.
What “watermelon metrics” are and how measurable key results can help us avoid them.
A definition of key results.
What “textbook key results” are, why we aim for them, and a few examples.
How you can find out more about Evolutionary OKRs.

Tweetables:

“In addition to being a collaborative goal-setting methodology, we think of OKRs as a thinking, deciding, and learning practice that helps us achieve greater growth, transformation and innovation by aligning on our most important measures of progress and success.” — @saralobkovich [0:05:36]

“Evolutionary OKRs mean thinking deeply about what's important and what might be possible. Identifying which measures of progress and success help us make better decisions in our work and organizations.” — @saralobkovich [0:05:54]

“OKRs let us define our own success and progress measures even when external expectations aren’t clear. They help us focus on what's most important, not only what's urgent.” — @saralobkovich [0:06:27]

“Think of objectives like strategic or visionary pillars. Added together, they describe what's most important for us to make progress on so that we are moving toward achieving our strategic priorities.” — @saralobkovich [0:12:48]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Code: b8f85fdd197a5360df3e2f89440315c330c28ef3

Mentioned in this episode:

Limited Time Offer: Strategy During Chaos

Feeling overwhelmed by constant change and uncertainty in your strategic planning? Discover a proven three-step framework for maintaining strategic focus when everything feels unpredictable in our upcoming "Strategy During Chaos" Workshop (May 7th, just $19) or dive deeper with our No-BS Strategic Achievement Intensive (May 15-16). Visit https://saralobkovich.com to secure your spot and transform how you operate strategically during turbulent times.

chaos_strategy

Today, we take a step back and answer the obvious question: what are Evolutionary Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and why are they important?

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to what OKRs are and how they became widely used.
The benefits of OKRs for individuals.
Differences between OKRs and other forms of planning.
Characteristics of great OKRs, starting with why they should fit on a page.
Why objectives are directional and key results are measurable.
An example OKR cadence for an organization.
Defining objectives, the qualities of strong objectives, and some examples.
What “watermelon metrics” are and how measurable key results can help us avoid them.
A definition of key results.
What “textbook key results” are, why we aim for them, and a few examples.
How you can find out more about Evolutionary OKRs.

Tweetables:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Code: b8f85fdd197a5360df3e2f89440315c330c28ef3

Mentioned in this episode:

Limited Time Offer: Strategy During Chaos

chaos_strategy

Previous Episode

Architecting Change: Rethinking the role of goals in achieving necessary change

We talk a lot around here about Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), and in this episode, we dive into an adjacent topic: the role that goal setting can play in making a case for and achieving important change in our organizations. The audio for this episode is from a LinkedIn Live that I hosted recently (if you'd like to hear about our every-other Wednesday Live gatherings, join our email list). Those Live sessions are geared toward changemaker leaders and strategic implementors within organizations who are hungry for ways to increase change effectiveness, increase employee engagement, and spend more time focused on achievement of their most important priorities.

In this episode, we look at:

A few of the factors that make change hard for people and teams;
Separating myth from fact about goal setting for change;
The importance of shifting how we think about goals from a win-lose mindset to a win-learn mindset;
I share some important tips for changemakers to increase their effectiveness at making the case for and achieving change in their work;
And share a set of key questions you can use to unblock change.

I also share some updates about opportunities to work with me this month to help set your 2023 up for success:

Join us for the week-long No BS OKRs series focused on achieving change, which kicks off next week (asynchronously on Dec 12, first workshop on Dec 13);
We have two very rare individual coaching slots available in our monthly membership 1:1 coaching schedule; and
I'm in the early stages of planning a cohort of our deep-dive Leading the Connected Strategic Organization learning series specifically for people who are neurodivergent.

This course is for people leaders (and aspiring people leaders) who want to improve their skills with communicating expectations clearly; leading through conflict; and leading their teams for growth and high performance. This class and what we practice in it are helpful for all leaders, but we're hearing especially positive feedback from autistic participants, leaders with ADHD, and people who have cognitive impacts from trauma. The approaches we learn and practice give leaders a toolkit they can adapt to their work (and fills in a lot of blanks for many of us who have struggled to develop effective leadership and management mechanics) to reduce the cognitive overhead of leading people and help us refocus on goal achievement and leading our teams for growth.

For more information on any of the above, find me at http://redcurrantco.com or email [email protected].

Show notes and transcript are slightly delayed, but will follow tomorrow (Friday) at http://thinkydoers.com .

Mentioned in this episode:

Limited Time Offer: Strategy During Chaos

chaos_strategy

Next Episode

KPIs vs. OKRs: What's the difference between KPIs and Key Results?

What's the difference between a KPI and an OKR? And specifically, what's the difference between a KPI and a Key Result? Here's a simple answer, with examples, to help make this concept easy to understand.

You’ll find out what defines KPIs, KRs, stretch goals, and commits, what they mean, how they impact businesses, and how they overlap. We discuss the problems caused by confusing these terms, which can lead to damaged trust, safety, and a reduction in employee engagement. We even use Sara’s personal health and well-being KPIs and KRs as an example to help you understand the differences! So, to hear all about KPIs and KRs and to be reminded of the importance of using clear language, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

What a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is and what it means.
What Key Results (KR) are and what job we hire them to do.
When might a KPI become a KR?
An example of the differences between KPIs and KRs, using health and well-being measures as an analogy.
What’s different about when we miss our goals on commits vs. Key Results (and why – in our definition – a KPI is never “missed,” but may be headed in the wrong direction)
Some organizational issues that can arise when language is not used clearly.
What “Commits” are and why there should be few of them in our aligned goal models.
Some things you should ask yourself as we approach our mid-year reset.

For more information on any of the above, find me at http://redcurrantco.com or email [email protected].

Show notes and transcript are available at http://thinkydoers.com .

Mentioned in this episode:

Limited Time Offer: Strategy During Chaos

chaos_strategy