Summary

Finding ways to track and measure Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) can seem like an OKR in itself. Some teams opt for tools and software to help make the process more efficient. We gathered a list of OKR management tools and tips to help streamline your goal-setting and tracking.

How can you ensure that your team is moving towards your organization’s goals? OKR (Objectives and Key Results) tools offer solutions to streamline and enhance the goal-setting process, integrating transparency and measurable outcomes. OKR tools can help guide your OKR journey efficiently and effectively, keeping your team focused and on track toward achieving Key Results.

Choosing the right OKR software – whether you’re a nonprofit with limited resources, a startup on a tight budget, or a large organization that needs a more robust solution – can influence the success or failure of your goals.

What are OKR tools?

OKR tools are software or platforms that set, track, and manage your OKRs, helping you plan and monitor your goals. They offer features like dashboards, automated progress updates for transparency and alignment, and insights into performance. Incorporating these OKR tools makes the OKR process more efficient and ensures everyone is moving in the same direction towards their Objective.

Choosing the right OKR tool: start with the basics

When selecting an OKR tool, simplicity can be the most effective. Andy Grove, president of Intel and the father of OKRs, encouraged John Doerr and the Intel team to post their OKRs on index cards outside of their cubicles on a basic whiteboard.

A pen, paper, and printer can also do the job! Jini Kim, former Google product manager and now CEO of healthcare company Nuna, said, “We put OKRs on our all-hand slides every single month. We print them and just post them all over the walls to say ‘you now know what you’re striving for and if you’re hitting it or not.’”

Whether setting personal, team or organization goals, sometimes less is more. Simple tools help you grasp OKR fundamentals without the complexities of advanced platforms – keeping you focused on what matters most: reaching your goals.

Free OKR tracking tools and templates: Google Suite

If you want to transition from analog to digital, Google’s suite of tools is a great start. Considering the company was built on OKRs, it’s not surprising that Google provides powerful, free tools and spreadsheets like Google Docs and Google Sheets – simple and easily accessible solutions to track your goals.

Here at WhatMatters.com, we created customized templates for both Google Docs and Google Sheets that you can start using today. Whether they’re organization-wide, team, or individual Objectives, you can adjust the templates to fit your needs.

  • Google Doc template - This doc includes company, team, and individual templates to help you keep clarity throughout the OKR cycle.
  • Google Sheet template - Who doesn’t love a good spreadsheet? Use this Google Sheet template and share it with your team for transparency and collaboration.

To use, select “File” and “Make a copy…” from the dropdown to start filling in your own goals. (Note: You must be signed into Gmail to use these docs.)

Using Google Docs or Sheets may be useful for smaller teams or startups. But if you want to roll out OKRs across a larger team or organization, you may want to consider more robust options.

Watch this video of our Co-founder and Coach Ryan share his experience with OKR software.

If you outgrow free OKR tools like Google Docs and Sheets, you may want to consider one of these paid OKR software platforms:

  • John Doerr’s top recommendation (and one of his investments) is Betterworks. Betterworks aims to help you “align your entire workforce to your organization’s top priorities and transparently track progress.”
  • Asana is a “work management platform to help you focus on the goals, projects and daily tasks,” serving organizations like AirBnB, The New York Times, Possible Health, and NASA.
  • Lattice helps companies create a culture of goal-setting. It provides a foundational toolkit that allows you to set clear OKRs, build trackable employee-centric 1:1s.

For a full list of paid OKR tools, check out our blog, What are Some Paid OKR Tools to Help with Goal Setting?

OKR Starter Kit by John Doerr and Coda

John Doerr partnered with Coda to produce the “Measure What Matters OKR Starter Kit,” powering teams with tools to begin using OKRs effectively.

Coda brings the digital document experience to the next level and “combines the flexibility of a document with the structure and depth of a spreadsheet.” Docs in Coda can be as powerful as an app, making it a versatile tool that can adapt to any team or company.

Check out their free OKR template kit here, which includes an interactive OKR worksheet and a step-by step guide to crafting OKRs.

Conclusion

OKR tools and templates help you simplify your goal-setting process, ensuring that your team is aligned and engaged. Whether you choose a simple pen and paper, a Google Doc, or a more sophisticated OKR platform, the focus is the same: achieve your most audacious goals.

Where can I find more OKR resources?

Whichever OKR tool or software you decide works best for you right now, our FAQs, resources, and stories can help you through the process. Or, if you have encountered other free OKR-tracking tools or software, please reach out and let us know so we can add them to our list.

And sign up for our Audacious newsletter!