Hey there, fellow agile enthusiasts and leaders! As someone who’s deeply passionate about optimizing teams and organizations for success, I’ve seen my fair share of struggles with OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Today, I want to talk about a phenomenon you may have encountered on your agile journey: Zombie OKR.
If you haven’t heard of it yet, let me shed some light on this not-so-mysterious yet all-too-common issue. I’ll dive into what Zombie OKR is, why it matters, and most importantly, how to steer clear of it. So, let’s jump in!
What Is Zombie OKR?
First, let’s break it down. Zombie OKR refers to a set of Objectives and Key Results that look good on paper but have lost their meaning and purpose over time. These OKRs are the walking dead—they exist, but they don’t drive progress or engagement. They may have been relevant at one point, but they’ve since become stale or outdated.
What Can Cause Zombie OKR?
According to John Doerr’s book Measure What Matters, there are several factors that can contribute to Zombie OKR in an organization. Leaders should watch out for these common pitfalls:
- Lack of Flexibility: When objectives and key results are set in stone and not adjusted based on progress, they can quickly become outdated. Google, for instance, regularly reviews and adjusts OKRs to keep up with changing market conditions.
- Overemphasis on Vanity Metrics: When organizations prioritize surface-level metrics that look good but don’t drive real impact, OKRs can become zombie-like. Instead, focus on metrics that align with strategic goals and create value.
- Setting Low Ambitions: OKRs that lack ambition or don’t push teams to stretch their capabilities can quickly become uninspiring. Google’s Larry Page encouraged setting bold goals, which kept teams motivated.
- Inadequate Progress Monitoring: Without regular check-ins and updates, OKRs can become mere formalities. Regular reviews at Google keep OKRs relevant and on track.
- Misalignment with the Larger Mission: OKRs should connect to the organization’s broader goals and mission. At the Gates Foundation, ensuring that OKRs aligned with their mission helped achieve meaningful impact.
Why Should I Care?
You might be thinking, “So what if my OKRs have lost some of their spark?” Well, here’s the deal:
- Lack of Progress: Zombie OKRs can stall your team’s progress. When there’s no clear direction or purpose, productivity can suffer.
- Team Engagement: If your team is working towards outdated or irrelevant objectives, motivation will plummet. People want to contribute to something meaningful.
- Missed Opportunities: Sticking with dead-end OKRs can prevent you from exploring new and exciting paths that could lead to innovation.
How to Spot Zombie OKR
Recognizing the signs of Zombie OKR is the first step in avoiding it. Here are a few indicators that your OKRs might need a refresh:
1. Low Energy
- What It Means: When your team appears disengaged or uninspired by the current objectives, it could be a sign that the OKRs are outdated or no longer relevant.
- Real-life Example: At Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin focused on setting ambitious objectives that motivated their teams. Doerr shares how Page would often push his teams towards high-reaching goals, which kept the team excited and energized. Conversely, when objectives became too routine or focused solely on metrics, the team’s energy would wane. This showed that teams work best when objectives are bold and engaging.
- What to Do: Watch for signs of low energy or waning interest. If you notice it, consider revisiting your objectives to ensure they align with what truly motivates your team and moves the organization forward.
2. Stagnant Key Results
- What It Means: Key results that aren’t showing progress over time or aren’t being updated regularly could indicate a disconnect between the objectives and the current state of the business.
- Real-life Example: Doerr discusses how at Google, early key results around ad revenue or search engine performance were initially useful but later required updates. As Google’s products and services expanded, the key results needed to adapt to these changes, such as introducing OKRs around YouTube or Android. This adaptation prevented stagnation and kept the focus aligned with broader company objectives.
- What to Do: Track the progress of key results over time. If you see stagnation, evaluate whether the key results are still meaningful and achievable. It may be time to update them to better match your objectives and the organization’s goals.
3. Lack of Alignment
- What It Means: When OKRs aren’t in sync with the broader mission and vision of the company, they may be veering off track and contributing little to the overall success.
- Real-life Example: The Gates Foundation provides an excellent example of alignment between OKRs and their mission. Doerr shares how the foundation’s goal of eradicating polio worldwide required objectives around research, vaccine development, and distribution. If their OKRs had strayed from the mission, focusing instead on unrelated health issues, their efforts might have been less effective. Instead, by maintaining a direct connection to their mission, the foundation has achieved significant progress in eradicating polio.
- What to Do: Ensure your OKRs are directly connected to the organization’s larger goals. If they seem disconnected, take the time to reassess and realign them with your mission and strategic objectives.
By paying attention to these indicators and addressing them early, you can avoid the pitfalls of Zombie OKRs and keep your team motivated and on track to achieve meaningful results. Let me know if you’ve noticed any of these signs in your organization and how you addressed them!
Tips to Avoid Zombie OKR
Now that you know what Zombie OKR is and why it matters, let’s talk about how to avoid it:
1. Regular Reviews
- Why It Matters: Regular reviews are essential to maintaining OKR effectiveness. They allow you to track progress, evaluate the relevance of objectives, and course-correct if necessary.
- How to Implement: Schedule monthly or quarterly check-ins to assess your OKRs. During these sessions, involve the entire team in discussing what’s working and what’s not. Look at which key results are progressing and which are stagnating. Make adjustments as needed to keep things on track.
2. Involve the Team
- Why It Matters: Getting input from your team members helps ensure your OKRs are aligned with their insights, experiences, and needs. When people feel invested in setting objectives and key results, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to achieving them.
- How to Implement: Encourage open dialogue and brainstorming sessions around OKRs. Ask your team members for their perspectives and suggestions on how to improve existing OKRs or create new ones. This collaborative approach builds ownership and buy-in.
3. Stay Aligned
- Why It Matters: OKRs should always tie back to the organization’s overall strategy and mission. When there’s misalignment, objectives can drift, causing teams to waste time and effort on activities that don’t contribute to the bigger picture.
- How to Implement: Review how your OKRs align with the company’s strategic goals. Ensure that each objective contributes directly to the overarching mission. This alignment keeps your team focused and working cohesively towards shared outcomes.
4. Be Flexible
- Why It Matters: The business landscape is constantly evolving, and your OKRs need to evolve with it. Flexibility allows you to adapt your objectives and key results as new opportunities or challenges arise.
- How to Implement: Don’t be afraid to pivot your OKRs if they’re not producing the desired results or if market conditions shift. This could mean adjusting timelines, changing objectives, or redefining key results. Stay agile and embrace change when needed.
By paying close attention to these tips, you can keep your OKRs alive, engaging, and impactful. Ultimately, this will lead to a more successful and innovative organization! Let me know how these tips work for you, or if you have any additional advice or questions on the topic.
Conclusion
Zombie OKRs can be a sneaky problem, but with awareness and proactive measures, you can keep your OKRs fresh, relevant, and engaging. Remember, the key to success is regularly reviewing your objectives and key results and involving your team in the process. By doing so, you’ll create a vibrant and dynamic OKR culture that propels your organization forward.
Let’s stay vigilant and keep those OKRs alive and kicking! Have you encountered Zombie OKR in your organization? Let me know in the comments below!
If you are interested in OKR then check out my other post about 7 ways of defining Key Results that make your OKR successful