As our workplaces continue to evolve, so do our tools to get things done. Many companies have moved away from paper and pen to-do lists to more robust project management platforms. Fortunately, the digital space is full of tracking programs your business can use to keep projects moving and everyone on track.
These software tools are more than simple programs that follow the linear progression of a project from point A to point B. Rather, they are complex and robust programs that incorporate project management measures and can be tailored to your goals. and your business strategy.
In project management, the system of Objectives and Key Results (OKR) has become a popular way to track a team’s progress. Using digital OKR tracking has opened up a world of possibilities as software companies have created intuitive programs that can be used to measure and monitor your team’s performance by setting goals with associated key results.
There are several great OKR software tools on the market in 2023. Here we will focus on some of the best, discuss their key features, and figure out which OKR software platforms are worth your investment.
What are OKRs and how do they work together?
If you’ve been following basic project management tactics for your business, the term “Objectives and Key Results” should have popped up along the way. However, if this term is still unfamiliar, I will summarize it in simple terms. The term OKR refers to a goal-setting framework that defines and tracks progress toward specific, measurable, and time-bound goals.
OKRs consist of two combined parts: objectives and key results.
Goals: These are high-level qualitative goals that an organization aims to achieve. Goals are usually challenging and inspiring and help align the efforts of the team as they strive towards a common goal. Objectives should be defined, communicated and reviewed regularly. These objectives aim to challenge teams and set ambitious goals. Examples of goals for your business might include “improve employee engagement or “improve customer satisfaction.”
Key results: They are quantifiable metrics that measure progress toward goals. Key results are more aggressive yet realistic. They are used to help track the success of goals and are part of the equation used to ensure they are attainable and measurable. Examples of key results for your business might include “Increase attendance at company events by 30% by the end of Q2” or “Improve customer satisfaction scores by 5%.”
Notice how the objectives and key results work together? For example, you can’t simply expect your company to succeed in the goal of “improving employee engagement” without key results stepping in to help it achieve certain goals or benchmarks.
ORKs work together like a boat works with a rudder. A rudderless boat can move – it may not go in the direction you want it to. Combine boat and helm, as you combine goals and key results, and you can move your project in the right direction in no time!
What does your company need in its OKR software?
With OKRs, your business can request:
“We will achieve target X, as measured by the following key results Y.”
But, before you can realize and measure, you need to clearly understand your X and Y.
When looking for your OKR software, what is the end game or your business requirements? Do you need this tracking software for individual goal setting or team collaboration? Do you want your tracking platform to have AI capabilities and fit a small team, or do you need enterprise capabilities to scale as your organization grows?
Knowing exactly what your business needs and how you want to track it helps you focus on the goal-setting platform you need for your short- and long-term goals and results.
To start your search for OKR software, here are some of our favorite OKR tools for 2023:
- Hive
- Weekend
- Goals.com
- Trellis
1. Hive
Hive is a project management platform that allows individual users and businesses to manage projects, track tasks, set goals, and track progress. Although it doesn’t technically use the OKR framework, Hive has a powerful Goals app that allows users to create and track customizable goals and objectives.
Once you’ve created a goal, Hive allows you to share it with other users, assign the goal to relevant teammates, track activity, and give yourself a time limit. Objectives of the hive The Dashboard is more than a list of endpoints – it’s your North Star.
Key features include:
- Create goals with other team members in real time
- Share team goals in a dynamic dashboard
- Accurate tracking with automated notifications and AI assistance
- Project-based goals that populate statuses based on task completion and overdue items
2. Finish the week
Weekend is an OKR software tool designed to help large companies measure, track and improve their organizational performance. Although it offers long-term goal setting, this platform mainly focuses on, you guessed it, projects worked on and completed for a week. From weekly updates to quarterly meetings, Weekdone’s OKR Framework offers an all-in-one solution for companies looking to increase team productivity and cross-departmental communications.
Key features include:
- Team objectives and key results for each department
- Automated reminders for goals
- Real-time interactive dashboards
- Quarterly OKRs combined with weekly planning and success metrics
3. Coda
Coda is another great option for setting organization-wide OKRs that focus on employee engagement. From creating progress visualizations for stakeholders to connecting OKR charts and analyzes to other documents, Coda is the ideal platform for companies looking to simplify their OKR framework. Coda’s team-building capabilities also make it easy to get your entire organization on track, and its interconnected platform ensures projects are tracked, measured and
Key features include:
- Pre-built templates take the guesswork out of your campaigns
- Seamless integration with Slack, Zoom and other apps
- A useful activity feeds and facilitates discussion between team members
- Offers “a source of truth” for users
4. Trellis
Trellis is OKR software designed to help small and medium-sized businesses track goals, manage collaboration, and share progress. This platform provides a place to track tasks and goals and allows employees to communicate, engage and grow freely in their roles.
Key features include:
- Built-in goal tracking with performance reviews
- 360 degree feedback
- Real-time messaging and collaboration
- Customizable security settings
Although this list is by no means exhaustive, you can see that by evaluating different OKR software options, you will be able to find the one that best suits your organization’s needs. Whether it’s a platform that offers great employee communication options or a platform with stellar goal tracking metrics like Hive, each tool has unique features that can help them. make them better suited to specific tasks or businesses.
OKRs are a great way to measure progress and ensure success in 2023. By choosing and setting up your team with a new OKR software tool, you can track progress and ensure everyone is on the same pitch of wave.
Are you more familiar with other tools? Let us know in the comments below!
