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Introducing Evolutionary OKRs

Mar 8, 2023

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:

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