10 Toughest Questions on OKRs answers by Ben Lamorte -Series 1

In his Mastering OKRs Webinar, Ben Lamorte walks us through his 3-step Formula for successful OKR implementation. He tackles the most common challenges leaders face when rolling out OKRs, answers your burning questions, and offers practical solutions to overcome these hurdles.

Here are a few:

1. How do you address resistance to OKRs from employees or stakeholders?

Resistance often arises due to a lack of understanding or fear of change.

To overcome this, he suggests,

1. Education and transparency:

Ensure employees and stakeholders understand the benefits of OKRs. Provide examples of how they drive alignment and focus.

2. Involve them in the process:

Give team members a voice in setting OKRs to build ownership and trust.

3. Highlight small wins:

Start with pilot teams and showcase early successes to demonstrate value.

2. What are the key challenges when implementing OKRs, and how can they be overcome?

The two most common challenges are,

1. Overcomplication:

Teams often create too many OKRs, which can lead to overwhelm. The solution is to simplify and focus on 1-3 key objectives with 3-5 key results per objective.

2. Lack of alignment:

When OKRs aren’t aligned at all levels, it leads to confusion. Ensuring alignment from the top down is a good, workable solution. OKRs should reflect the company’s strategy and cascade throughout the organization.

3. What is the right frequency for check-ins when your OKRs are for a quarter?

Ben Lamorte recommends bi-weekly check-ins. He also explains why.

• Weekly check-ins can feel excessive and may lack meaningful updates.
• Monthly check-ins are too infrequent and may cause delayed course corrections.
• Bi-weekly check-ins strike the balance by allowing enough time to make progress while keeping teams engaged and accountable.

4. How do you ensure leadership buy-in and support for OKRs?

Leadership buy-in is crucial for OKR’s success:

Ben suggests a 3 step process.

1. Lead by example:

Executives must actively participate in setting OKRs and aligning them with company-wide objectives.

2. Communicate the benefits:

Show how OKRs improve focus, alignment, and execution.

3. Tie to business outcomes:

Demonstrate how OKRs drive results and measurable growth, aligning directly with strategic business goals.

5. Can we have multiple KR champions per KR?

Multiple champions can be assigned to each Key Result (KR), which is especially useful in cross-functional teams. The key is to ensure clarity in roles and responsibilities and that the KR champions coordinate effectively to ensure progress and alignment.

6. How do you shift your mindset from pass/fail (win/lose) to ahead/behind to drive engagement and meaningful outcomes?

Focus on progress, not perfection:

1. Shift the narrative:

Instead of seeing OKRs as a “pass/fail” scenario, position them as a continuous improvement process teams are either ahead, on track, or behind, with a clear action plan to get back on track.

2. Encourage learning:

Highlight how setbacks are learning opportunities that can be addressed constructively.

7. How do you define Commit and Target?

Commit: This represents your certainty and confidence in achieving a specific key result. It’s a promise to hit a specific, measurable goal.

Target: The ideal outcome or desired result you are aiming for with a particular OKR. It’s a stretch goal that drives higher performance.

8. Can you have OKRs in less-learned areas, such as construction?

Yes! OKRs can be used in any industry, including construction, by tailoring them to the work context. They could focus on safety, completion rates, cost efficiency, or meeting deadlines. The key is to ensure that OKRs are measurable and aligned with the larger business strategy.

9. How would you incorporate transitional Project Portfolio Management (PPM) with OKRs?

Larger projects, especially those lasting over three or six months, can be integrated with OKRs through careful transitional alignment. Break large projects into more minor, measurable key results that feed into broader organizational goals. Use OKRs to drive milestones and accountability, ensuring long-term projects align with the company’s short-term objectives.

10. OKR is primarily about aligning Management Objectives with Key Results. But is it challenging to align OKRs with every department?

Aligning OKRs across departments can be challenging but essential for success. Here is what works.

1. Start with high-level objectives:

Ensure top-level OKRs align with company strategy and cascade them down to each department’s goals.

2. Create departmental alignment:

Work with department heads to ensure that their OKRs tie directly into the company’s key initiatives. Alignment becomes much easier when everyone sees how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

3. The Real Takeaway:

Implementing OKRs is a journey that requires discipline, focus, and the willingness to adapt.

That’s a wrap on Series 1 of 10 Toughest Questions on OKRs Answered by Ben Lamorte! We’ve covered a lot resistance to OKRs, alignment challenges, check-in frequencies, leadership buy-in, and even how to apply OKRs across industries.