9 common mistakes while using OKRs and what to do instead

Fabiano B.
3 min readJun 29, 2022

I brought OKRs to 2 companies and improved the processes of another one that was already using them.
It’s a simple framework but in order to use it properly, it’s not that easy.

Let’s go through the mistakes I saw happening and recommendations for what to do instead.

#1: Setting too many OKRs

This happens usually the first time a company tries out OKRs. Everything in the company becomes OKR with no clear priority.

Less is more, communicate clearly what is the message you want to pass. OKRs is a communication tool that gives direction and connects the daily tasks to the company's business goals, so use it wisely.

Having 2 to 3 Objectives and also 2 to 3 KRs for each Objective is a good rule of thumb.

#2: Skipping periodic check-ins

Prepare all the OKRs at the beginning of the quarter and then just check if they worked by the end of the quarter.

The recommendation here is to make a periodic weekly or bi-weekly using the Semaphore:

Green: I am confident that the KR will be achieved.

Yellow: It’s possible to achieve the KR but some changes in the action plan are…

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