If you're implementing OKRs at your startup, you may have experienced a frustrating delay in seeing results.
Many startups report that it takes months before they start seeing improvements from their OKRs. If that sounds familiar, then you will be glad to hear that you’re not alone.
Based on our soon-to-be-released original research report, 12% of startups say that it takes more than 6 months before they start to see a measurable impact.
Meanwhile, 50% of startups see a measurable impact from OKRs within 3 months.
So, why does setting up OKRs take so long for some startups but not for others.
And more importantly, how can you fix it?
In this article, we'll explore the main reasons behind slow OKR setups and provide you with actionable steps to speed up the process so you can start seeing results faster.
Why Does Setting Up OKRs Take So Long?
There are several reasons why the OKR process might drag out longer than expected:
1. Lack of Clarity on Business Priorities
Before diving into OKRs, you need to have a clear understanding of your startup's business priorities.
Many teams jump into OKRs without first aligning on what the company’s key objectives are. If you're not sure about your business priorities, you’re bound to waste time trying to define OKRs that don’t align with the bigger picture.
Without clarity, it’s hard to know what to focus on, and you’ll end up wasting valuable time in the process.
2. Overcomplicating the Process
Startups often try to be too thorough in the early stages, creating an exhaustive list of OKRs across every department and level.
The more objectives you set, the more time and resources are needed to manage them. By complicating things too early on, you’ll create bottlenecks, making it difficult to stay aligned and execute effectively.
The key is to keep it simple at first and focus on the most important goals.
3. Poor Communication and Alignment
OKRs are meant to bring alignment and clarity to your team, but they can fall short if communication isn’t streamlined.
When you don’t clearly communicate your team’s roles and responsibilities in relation to the OKRs, the process can take much longer.
Regular communication is essential to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands what they need to do to achieve their goals.
How to Fix Slow OKR Setups and Start Seeing Results Faster
Now that we’ve identified the main reasons behind slow OKR setups, let’s look at how you can speed up the process:
1. Simplify Your Approach
Instead of overwhelming your team with too many objectives, start small with a few high-level OKRs. This keeps the focus on the most important priorities and prevents unnecessary complexity.
Once your team is comfortable with the OKR process, you can expand and add more objectives over time. The simpler you keep things at the start, the quicker you'll get results.
2. Clarify Business Priorities Before Setting OKRs
Before you even think about setting OKRs, ensure that your business priorities are crystal clear. Have a conversation with your leadership team to define the core objectives for the next quarter or year.
With this clarity in place, you can create OKRs that align with your company's vision, making it easier to execute and measure success.
Once the "why" is established, setting the "how" becomes a lot easier.
Recommended reading: How to Write Effective OKRs (A Step-by-Step Guide)
3. Involve Your Team in the OKR Process
OKRs should be a collaborative effort.
Rather than having a top-down approach where leadership creates the OKRs and expects the team to follow, try to involve your team in the process.
Allow department leads to contribute to the goal-setting process. This will ensure that everyone’s OKRs are relevant to their role and responsibilities, speeding up the adoption process and ensuring that everyone is on board.
4. Use OKR Software to Streamline the Process
Using OKR software can dramatically speed up the setup process.
Instead of using spreadsheets or Notion to track progress, OKR software automates key tasks, tracks progress in real-time, and sends reminders to keep everyone aligned.
With OKR software, you reduce administrative effort and save valuable time, allowing your team to focus on executing the goals.
5. Set Up Regular Check-Ins for Feedback and Adjustment
It’s important to create a feedback loop from the start.
Hold regular OKR check-ins to track progress and identify any potential issues.
These check-ins should be short and focused, with the goal of ensuring that your team is aligned and on track. If something isn’t working, you can make adjustments early, preventing bigger roadblocks down the line.
You might like: How to Run a Weekly Check-In for Your Startup
6. Celebrate Small Wins to Keep Momentum Going
As you begin to achieve milestones with your OKRs, be sure to celebrate the small wins along the way. This helps your team stay motivated and reminds them that the OKR process is worth the effort.
Celebrating progress early on also encourages engagement and reinforces the importance of OKRs in your startup’s success.
Conclusion
OKRs don’t have to take months to start seeing results.
By simplifying your approach, clarifying priorities, involving your team, using OKR software, and setting up regular check-ins, you can speed up the process and start achieving your objectives much faster.
With the right strategy in place, you’ll be able to track your startup’s progress efficiently, address challenges before they become major issues, and maintain alignment across your team.
By focusing on key objectives and using tools that streamline the process, your startup can scale faster and execute more effectively.
Ready to streamline your OKR setup? Sign up for OKRs Tool today and start achieving your goals faster!
