How to write good key results
A Key Result is how you'll know an objective was achieved. It should be a number you can track from a start value to a target value, not a list of tasks to complete.
What makes a good key result
- Measurable: it has a start value, a target value, and a unit
- Outcome-based: it describes a result, not an activity
- Verifiable: anyone can look at the number and agree whether it was hit
- Owned: a single person is responsible for keeping it updated
Outcomes, not tasks
"Publish 10 blog posts" is a task, not a key result: you can complete it without moving the needle on the objective. "Grow organic website visitors from 2,000 to 5,000 per month" is a key result: it measures the outcome you actually care about.
Setting start and target values
In Easy OKR, each key result has a start value, a current value, and a target value, with an optional unit like %, users, or $. Set the start value to where you are today, and the target to where you want to be by the end of the cycle. Progress is calculated automatically as the current value moves between the two.
How many key results per objective?
Two to four key results per objective is a good range. Fewer than that and you risk missing an important angle; more than that and it becomes hard to focus check-ins on what matters most.
Examples
Objective: Become the go-to OKR tool for small teams in our market
- Grow monthly active organizations from 40 to 120
- Increase customer satisfaction score from 7.5 to 9.0
- Reduce average time-to-first-objective from 20 minutes to 5 minutes
Next step
Once your key results are in place, keep them accurate over time with regular check-ins.