Agile strategies and OKRs for startups, agencies and SMEs
As a business leader in a rapidly evolving industry, you probably already know that an agile strategy helps you dynamically adapt yourself and the business to change. In this context, you might have already dealt with the topic of OKR. We help companies define OKRs and align your entire strategy. In doing so, we pick you up exactly where you currently stand in the topic. Here you can consider comprehensive consulting services and/or our valuable toolbox.
Why OKRs?
It is not enough to set up an agile company in high-growth industries. With OKRs you have a professional goal setting system. The difference for medium/long-term objectives and short-term objectives already plays a role in the terminology. OKRs are medium/long-term objectives, while Key Results are short-term targets. OKRs are agile target setting systems. They are constantly adapted to current developments. This applies not only to the company as a whole, but also to individual teams and organizational units. Above all, there is an overall strategy that enables the company and each organizational subunit to respond to specific changes in an agile manner.
How can OKRs be developed?
If there is to be an entire strategy behind an OKR, it is recommended to develop the OKR in several steps:
Step 1
Asking “why” establishes a goal that extends beyond 12 months. This could be, for example, a stronger perception in the market in the next year.
Step 2
The individual organizational units, such as the marketing team, set shorter goals. For example, they determine where they want to be in terms of market perception in 3 months. Here they would discuss for example, whether to use paid marketing or how else to position themselves more strongly in the market with targeted content management. The question here is “how”.
Step 3
Now you define concrete changes that result from the new strategic approaches. For example, a marketing team would now use KPIs to describe how specifically lead inquiries or visits to the website will develop within the next 3 months. In this 3rd step, the question of “what” is answered.
Our toolbox refers exactly to these 3 steps and is therefore an excellent tool to define your OKRs. Subunits, such as individual teams, can also use this toolbox to define their specific objectives to become and, most importantly, stay agile. Likewise, you ensure that OKRs remain aligned with the overall strategy.
How is an OKR set up in an agency, startup, or SME?
In this section, we address how the overall strategy is brought together with the objectives of the subdivisions. Again, we recommend a step-by-step approach in different phases.
Phase 1 – Aligning strategically
At this point, it’s all about the overall strategy. For example, the strategy aims to grow rapidly overall with the company and the market. You could proceed here in several sub-steps as follows:
- Where are we – status quo? Where do we want to go – benchmarking?
- A Startegyzer summarizes the overall strategy, the vision behind it and the purpose of all change efforts.
- Strategic sub-goals and KPIs are defined.
- Who is responsible for implementing the strategy?
Phase 2 – Establishment of OKRs in the individual teams
Phase 3 – Define each OKR with the overall strategy in mind
Phase 4 – Establish an OKR routine to be consistently agile
Phase 5 – The respective OKR is integrated into the measurement of performance
Advantages of OKRs in the context of an overall strategy
By incorporating an overall strategy, you can be agile with your business while maintaining a comprehensive set of goals. Each team successfully sets short-term goals that are in line with the overall strategy. At the same time, the short-term goals can always be adapted to the respective subsequent developments. The strategy therefore remains agile enough, but is also aligned with a long-term objective. OKRs are the perfect tools to develop the different types of goals in a short time. Top performers such as Google or Amazon have therefore long since discovered Objectives for themselves. In this context, being agile does not mean doing without visions or long-term objectives. Quite the opposite. You work with the company in an agile way to achieve visions and long-term goals.
What can we do for you?
We support you in all phases of strategy setting and OKR development. Let’s have a first conversation to find out where you stand with your company and what the next steps could be.
You are already familiar with OKRs? Then discover our toolbox for yourself. For only 150 EUR you will receive tailor-made tools that will help you and your team to get the most out of OKRs.
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Take care and stay healthy,
Your Amaze Growth Team
