4 OKR examples for Practical Application
What are Practical Application OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Creating impactful OKRs can be a daunting task, especially for newcomers. Shifting your focus from projects to outcomes is key to successful planning.
We've tailored a list of OKRs examples for Practical Application to help you. You can look at any of the templates below to get some inspiration for your own goals.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.
Building your own Practical Application OKRs with AI
Using Tability AI to draft complete strategies in seconds
While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here.
You can use Tability's AI generator to create tailored OKRs based on your specific context. Tability can turn your objective description into a fully editable OKR template -- including tips to help you refine your goals.
See it in action in the video below 👇
Using the AI generator, you can:
- Chat with an AI to draft your goals
- Ask questions or provide feedback to refine the OKRs
- Import the suggestion in an editor designed for goal setting
- Switch back to a goal-tracking view in 1-click
Using the free OKR generator to get a quick template
If you're just looking for some quick inspiration, you can also use our free OKR generator to get a template.
Unlike with Tability, you won't be able to iterate on the templates, but this is still a great way to get started.
Our Practical Application OKRs examples
You will find in the next section many different Practical Application Objectives and Key Results. We've included strategic initiatives in our templates to give you a better idea of the different between the key results (how we measure progress), and the initiatives (what we do to achieve the results).
Hope you'll find this helpful!
1. OKRs to enhance leadership skills through online learning and practical application
- ObjectiveEnhance leadership skills through online learning and practical application
- KRGather feedback on leadership improvements, aiming for a 20% increase in positive responses
- Develop a comprehensive leadership evaluation survey
- Distribute survey to all team members
- Analyze survey results for improvement opportunities
- KRImplement learned strategies in weekly team meetings, improving team cohesion by 30%
- Encourage team discussions around these strategies
- Measure improvement in team cohesion weekly
- Review learned strategies before every team meeting
- KRComplete a certified online leadership course by achieving 90% or above
- Research and select a certified online leadership course
- Complete all assignments to a high standard, aiming for 90% or above
- Consistently study and engage in course materials
2. OKRs to enhance tech lead abilities by utilizing online learning and practical application
- ObjectiveEnhance tech lead abilities by utilizing online learning and practical application
- KRImplement learned techniques in five real-life projects, increasing efficiency by 20%
- Identify five real-life projects that need improvement
- Monitor and measure efficiency increase by 20%
- Apply learned techniques to these chosen projects
- KRComplete six pieces of an online leadership in tech course
- Diligently study the course material
- Register for the online leadership in tech course
- Finish all six components of the course
- KRObtain a 90% or higher score in all applied tech leadership quizzes and exams
- Schedule daily study hours dedicated to applied tech leadership
- Join study groups for comprehensive review discussions
- Regularly practice with past quizzes and exams
3. OKRs to achieve mastery in advanced analytics tools
- ObjectiveAchieve mastery in advanced analytics tools
- KRComplete an advanced online course on SQL and Tableau by end of the quarter
- Complete all assignments, quizzes, and final exam before the proposed deadline
- Select and enroll in an advanced online course for SQL and Tableau
- Dedicate specific hours daily for the coursework and adhere strictly to it
- KRImplement 5 real-world projects using advanced analytics tools, achieving desired output
- Develop and implement 5 analytics-based projects
- Assess and ensure desired output is achieved
- Select sophisticated analytics tools suitable for the projects
- KRSolve 100 analytics problems using Python and R programming with 90% accuracy
- Identify and start solving 100 analytics problems
- Test and ensure 90% accuracy in problem-solving
- Master Python and R programming through consistent practice and study
4. OKRs to acquire advanced Data Science skills
- ObjectiveAcquire advanced Data Science skills
- KRObtain certification in Python and R programming from any reputed certification body
- Study thoroughly and pass certification exams
- Enroll in selected certification courses
- Research reputable bodies offering Python and R certifications
- KRImplement three Data Science projects using different datasets and algorithms
- KRComplete five online Data Science courses with at least 85% score
- Dedicate daily study time to complete coursework
- Aim for a minimum 85% score on all assignments
- Choose five online Data Science courses
Practical Application OKR best practices
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
The #1 role of OKRs is to help you and your team focus on what really matters. Business-as-usual activities will still be happening, but you do not need to track your entire roadmap in the OKRs.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
Tip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins
Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to get the full value of your OKRs and make your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
Tip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
How to track your Practical Application OKRs
Quarterly OKRs should have weekly updates to get all the benefits from the framework. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
Spreadsheets are enough to get started. Then, once you need to scale you can use a proper OKR platform to make things easier.
If you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
More Practical Application OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
OKRs to enhance effectiveness of SIEM event management and correlation OKRs to attain a 90 pass mark by end of first 9 weeks OKRs to develop an efficient account strategy template for top urgent accounts OKRs to strengthen market positioning in Spain OKRs to enhance student leadership and engagement OKRs to successfully implement innovative solutions similar to Proxmox XNG