OKRs Playbook: Intro

Agency Playbook

OKRs Playbook: Intro

An introduction to the OKRs section of the Playbook.

Should I consider OKRs?

Agency Playbook

Should I consider OKRs?

A playbook guide about whether you should even consider OKRs in the first place.

Why should I use OKRs?

Agency Playbook

Why should I use OKRs?

OKRs can help you to find answers to the essential challenges of turning your agency's purpose into reality — Where do I want to go? and, How will I know if I'm getting there?

What works when introducing OKRs to your business?

Agency Playbook

What works when introducing OKRs to your business?

So, you've decided OKRs will probably work for you in your agency. But … how do you go about introducing them? What'll work? And where could it possibly go wrong?

What about individual OKRs?

Agency Playbook

What about individual OKRs?

Quick note: Do not set individual OKRs! It was trendy for a while for company OKRs being made to trickle-down. But it's not good. Don't do it.

What works in the practices of OKRs?

Agency Playbook

What works in the practices of OKRs?

In this section of the playbook we're focussing on the practices of OKRs. That's more than just the Objectives and the Key Results parts (often called an 'OKR set') — it's other the essential

OKRs: Your company's vision, and what you choose as your priorities

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Your company's vision, and what you choose as your priorities

To set an OKR goal, whether quarterly or annual, you are taking that ‘what shall we focus on’ part of the question and giving it boundaries, parameters that will help in making your vision concrete

OKRs: Turning Priorities into an Objective (or Objectives)

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Turning Priorities into an Objective (or Objectives)

An Objective for an OKR set is not the same as a business priority you've identified. Actually defining the Objective, and then finding the right words to phrase it, is an important and distinctive step.

OKRs: Choosing Key Results for your Objective(s)

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Choosing Key Results for your Objective(s)

Choosing Key Results that are metrics that make a meaningful difference on attaining your goal, a strong signal of progress and easy-to-measure comparisons. Use triangulation to keep things balanced.

What Works: A Meeting Blueprint for Setting Your OKR(s)

Agency Playbook

What Works: A Meeting Blueprint for Setting Your OKR(s)

A sketch that's instantly usable for a meeting for you to set your OKR(s) for the quarter ahead.

OKRs: Confidence Scoring

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Confidence Scoring

Although experienced opinions are divided on how to score your confidence in your OKRs and the progress you're making, here's some detailed advice to make it practical, easy and useful too.

OKRs: Setting the Cadence for your OKR Cycle

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Setting the Cadence for your OKR Cycle

A decision you'll need to make fairly early on with OKRs is how long your cycles are going to be. By an OKR cycle we mean the duration an OKR is in effect, from kick-off to completion.

OKRs: Taking Measurements

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Taking Measurements

Remember to take the measurements — put those numbers in! Remember to read what you're measuring. And what about using software?

OKRs: Going Week by Week

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Going Week by Week

In order to make OKRs work for you, each week of your OKR cycle needs to have some structure. Here's a dive into what works well.

OKRs: Evaluating your OKR(s)

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Evaluating your OKR(s)

Evaluating your OKRs is an essential element of implementing them. Rapid learning for your business and your team is a central aim.

OKRs: Deciding on the next Objective

Agency Playbook

OKRs: Deciding on the next Objective

When you come to deciding on the Objective for your next OKR cycle what are the things you should bear in mind?

How do I make sure that OKRs work?

Agency Playbook

How do I make sure that OKRs work?

You've got a strong sense of what works for OKRs, now. What may be less clear, though, is the week in, week out practices of OKRs in your company. What does it look like to actually do this? How can we make sure that they actually work for us?

Storming and Forming: OKRs for Focus and Alignment

Agency Playbook

Storming and Forming: OKRs for Focus and Alignment

At the stages in agency life when there's serious changes or transformations happening it's important you have an engine that drives the changes through the business — to bring alignment so you're all pulling in the same direction, and a tight focus in your efforts so nothing's wasted