The key result has to be measurable. But in the end, you can look, and without any arguments: Did I do that or did I not do it? Yes? No? Simple. No judgments in it.
When it comes to setting goals and being successful, the one organization that comes to our mind is Google. Google’s OKRs are legendary and a lot of the company’s success can be attributed to their OKRs.
As a result, it’s no secret that everyone wants to emulate Google’s goal setting method and perhaps their meteoric success as well.
OKRs stand for ‘Objectives And Key Results’. OKRs are a popular approach for goal-setting which allows employees to execute individual as well as company objectives.
Objectives are something that you want to achieve, and key results are a measurable way to keep track of how close you are to achieve your goals.
OKR software helps employees with task management and to track the progress of their goal easily. But with too many options available in the market, it becomes a difficult job for an organization to select one.
OKR Software Features To Look For
The section below highlights the best OKR software features to look for before you invest in a tool.
1. Easy And Simple to Use By Everyone
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo da Vinci.
The OKR software should be user-friendly and easy to use. Users should be able to understand how the software works with little or no training. The user interface should be clean and not cluttered with useless information. The simpler the software, the easier it would be for everyone to use. Understanding and managing the software should not be a new project in and of itself for all employees. Additionally, it should support easy integration with other tools or processes. The adoption rate of software depends on its user-friendliness and simplicity of use.
Also Read: Why OKRs Are Crucial When Onboarding New Employees
2. Flexible and Customizable
OKR software should be flexible and support easy customization. OKRs/Goals check-ins can be in the form of a percentage, quantity, or milestone. The software should give users the flexibility to check in on their goals as per their needs. Flexible and customizable software will be useful for the organization in the long run.
3. Allows Comment
OKRs have a shelf-life and are generally set every quarter. The ability to comment on OKRs allows managers and employees to discuss it regularly. OKR platform with comment functionality promotes two-way communication and helps in setting a culture of regular feedback and a healthy work culture.
Also Read: Have You Set Effective OKRs For Your Customer Success Team?
4. Cascade and Align
OKR software should possess the basic functionality to align and cascade OKRs and goals. OKRs and goals are often shared responsibility. Cascading goals will allow the sharing of goals from one level of the organization to the next. For example, a manager can cascade his goals down to his direct reports.
Goal alignment, on the other hand, helps everyone visualize the bigger picture. It allows individuals to engage in goal alignment and goal management. For example, if one of the organization’s main goals is to break into an as-yet untapped market, the ability to align goals shows an employee how exactly they are contributing to this specific goal.
5. Dashboards and Insights
OKR software tools should present actionable dashboards and insights. It should be easy to understand and analyze so that it is actionable. Moreover, it should highlight the number of goals, the percentage of completion, goal alignment, and their status. It will help employees know whether any goal will be a bottleneck and needs attention. Moreover, an OKR software with an actionable dashboard and insights will help employees stay aligned and focussed.
