OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and other strategy execution tools* are excellent mechanisms for getting traction in business and really getting results.
Why are they effective? Because they require you to decide specifically what is important to achieve in the next month/quarter/year. And so they help you know what to focus on (feel free to say no to everything else).
We overestimate what we can achieve in a day but we underestimate what we can achieve in a year.
Simple but powerful frameworks like OKRs can help us stay on track within a day so that we achieve the big important goals each quarter and year.
Here’s the thing
If you half-arse using OKRs you will likely get half the result. My very strong recommendation is whatever execution framework you choose, implement the whole thing, or you won’t get the promised result.
Many great minds have honed these powerful frameworks – you don’t need to change them. Just do what it says on the tin and you’ll get the results.
So for example, don’t just define a set of Objectives and Key Results without also making sure you do regular progress reviews and incorporate learnings (feedback loop), align your objectives to your strategy/ies, make the KRs measurable, etc.
(*Other similar but different but also useful frameworks include Four Disciplines of Execution 4DX, Business Motivation Model, Strategy on a Page.)
Best,
—D