Key Results & Check-ins

This guide covers everything about creating, tracking, and updating Key Results through regular check-ins.Understanding Key Results

Key Results are the measurable outcomes that indicate progress toward an Objective. They answer the question: "How will we know if we've achieved the objective?"

Characteristics of Good Key Results

A good Key Result is:

• Measurable: Has a specific number or outcome
• Time-bound: Has a clear deadline
• Achievable: Challenging but possible
• Relevant: Directly supports the objective
• Verifiable: Anyone can check if it's achieved

Key Result Formula[Action Verb] + [Metric] + from [Starting Value] to [Target Value]

Examples:

• Increase website traffic from 10,000 to 50,000 monthly visitors
• Reduce customer churn from 8% to 3%
• Launch 5 new product features
• Achieve 95% customer satisfaction score

Key Result Types and Units1. Number Type

For counting discrete items or absolute values.

Use Cases:

• Number of customers
• Number of features released
• Number of team members trained
• Number of blog posts published

Example:

Title: Acquire new enterprise customers
Unit: Number Direction: Increase Initial Value: 10 Target Value: 25 Current Value: 15 (updated via check-ins) Progress: 33% ((15-10)/(25-10) = 5/15) 2. Percentage Type

For measuring completion or rates.

Use Cases:

• Completion percentage
• Adoption rates
• Success rates
• Satisfaction scores

Example:

Title: Complete infrastructure migration Unit: Percentage Direction: Increase Initial Value: 0% Target Value: 100% Current Value: 45% Progress: 45% 3. Currency Type

For financial metrics.

Use Cases:

• Revenue
• Cost savings
• Budget utilization
• Customer lifetime value

Example:

Title: Increase monthly recurring revenue Unit: Currency Direction: Increase Initial Value: $50,000 Target Value: $100,000 Current Value: $72,000 Progress: 44% ((72k-50k)/(100k-50k) = 22k/50k) 4. Boolean Type

For yes/no or done/not-done outcomes.

Use Cases:

• Project launches
• Certification completion
• Binary deliverables

Example:

Title: Launch new mobile application Unit: Boolean Direction: Increase Initial Value: 0 (No) Target Value: 1 (Yes) Current Value: 0 (updated to 1 when complete) Progress: 0% or 100% Key Result DirectionIncrease

When to Use:

• Growing metrics (revenue, customers, NPS)
• Building something new
• Improving performance

Progress Calculation:

(Current - Initial) / (Target - Initial) × 100

Example:

Initial: 20, Target: 100, Current: 60 Progress: (60-20)/(100-20) = 40/80 = 50% Decrease

When to Use:

• Reducing problems (churn, costs, bugs)
• Improving efficiency (time, resources)
• Minimizing negative metrics

Progress Calculation:

(Initial - Current) / (Initial - Target) × 100

Example:

Initial: 100, Target: 20, Current: 60 Progress: (100-60)/(100-20) = 40/80 = 50% Maintain

When to Use:

• Keeping performance stable
• Maintaining quality levels
• Sustaining achievements

Progress Calculation: Based on staying within acceptable range.

Example:

Maintain 99% uptime Target: 99% Current: 99.2% Progress: 100% (within acceptable range) Creating Key ResultsWhen Creating an Objective

1. Create or edit an objective

2. In the Key Results section, click "Add Key Result"

3. Fill in the key result form:

   Basic Information:

   • Title (required): Clear description of what's being measured
   • Description (optional): Context, methodology, data sources

   Measurement:

   • Unit Type: Number, Percentage, Currency, or Boolean
   • Direction: Increase, Decrease, or Maintain
   • Initial Value: Starting point
   • Target Value: Goal to achieve

   Assignment:

   • Owner: Person responsible (defaults to objective owner)
   • Weight: Relative importance (0.5-2.0, default 1.0)

4. Click "Add Key Result"

5. Repeat for additional key results

6. Save the objective

After Objective is Created

To add key results to an existing objective:

1. Navigate to the objective detail page
2. Scroll to Key Results section
3. Click "Add Key Result"
4. Fill in the form
5. Click "Save"

Managing Key ResultsViewing Key Results

From Objective View:

1. Open any objective
2. Key Results section shows:
   • Title and description
   • Owner
   • Progress bar and percentage
   • Current value vs. target value
   • Last check-in date
   • Check-in button

From Key Result Detail View:

1. Click on any key result title
2. See detailed page with:
   • Full description
   • Progress chart over time
   • Complete check-in history
   • Comments and updates
   • Trend analysis

Editing Key Results

Who Can Edit:

• Key Result owner
• Objective owner
• Team Admins (for team key results)
• Company Admins

How to Edit:

1. Open the objective or key result
2. Click "Edit" next to the key result
3. Modify fields:
   • Title, description
   • Owner
   • Weight
   • Target value (use caution)
4. Click "Save"

⚠️ Important: Avoid changing initial value, unit type, or direction after check-ins have started, as this affects progress calculations.

Deleting Key Results

1. Open the objective
2. Find the key result
3. Click "..." menu or "Delete"
4. Confirm deletion

⚠️ Warning: This permanently deletes:

• The key result
• All check-ins
• All historical data

Better Alternative: Set as "On Hold" or archive instead of deleting.

Check-ins

Check-ins are regular progress updates on key results. They're the heartbeat of OKR tracking.

Why Check-ins Matter

• Accountability: Regular progress reporting
• Visibility: Keep stakeholders informed
• Course Correction: Identify issues early
• Momentum: Celebrate small wins
• Data: Track trends and velocity

Check-in Frequency

Recommended frequencies based on objective type:

• Weekly (7 days): Default and recommended for most OKRs
• Bi-weekly (14 days): For slower-moving objectives
• Monthly (30 days): For long-term strategic initiatives

Best Practice: Consistency matters more than frequency. Choose a schedule and stick to it.

Submitting a Check-in

Method 1: From Dashboard

1. On your dashboard, find the key result
2. Click "Check-in" button
3. Fill in the check-in form (see below)
4. Submit

Method 2: From Objective View

1. Navigate to the objective
2. Find the key result
3. Click "Check-in" button
4. Fill in the form
5. Submit

Method 3: From Key Result Detail Page

1. Navigate to Company/Team/My OKRs
2. Click on the objective
3. Click on the key result title
4. Click "Submit Check-in"
5. Fill in the form
6. Submit

Check-in Form Fields

When submitting a check-in, you'll provide:

1. Value Update (Required)

For Number/Percentage/Currency:

• Enter current value
• System calculates progress automatically
• Example: If target is 100 and you enter 60, progress = 60%

For Boolean:

• Select "Complete" or "Incomplete"
• Progress = 0% or 100%

2. Progress Percentage (Auto-calculated)

The system calculates this based on:

(Current Value - Initial Value) / (Target Value - Initial Value) × 100

You can manually override if needed.

3. Comment (Optional but Recommended)

General update or context:

• Brief summary of progress
• Overall status
• General thoughts

Example: "Good progress this week. Team is aligned and moving quickly."

4. Achievements (Optional)

What was accomplished:

• List of completed milestones
• Wins and successes
• Deliverables completed
• Can add multiple items

Examples:

• "Closed 3 new enterprise deals"
• "Launched beta version to 100 users"
• "Reduced page load time by 40%"

5. Blockers (Optional)

Obstacles or challenges:

• What's preventing progress
• Issues that need resolution
• Dependencies waiting on others
• Can add multiple items

Examples:

• "Waiting on legal approval for contract"
• "Server capacity issues affecting performance"
• "Two team members on vacation this week"

6. Next Steps (Optional)

Planned actions:

• What you'll focus on next
• Upcoming milestones
• Immediate priorities
• Can add multiple items

Examples:

• "Schedule demos with 5 prospects"
• "Complete API integration testing"
• "Hire two additional team members"

7. Confidence Level (Optional)

How confident are you in achieving the target?

Scale: 1-10

• 1-3: Low confidence, significant risk
• 4-6: Moderate confidence, some concerns
• 7-9: High confidence, on track
• 10: Certain to achieve or exceed

Use for:

• Early warning system
• Risk identification
• Prioritization decisions

Check-in Best PracticesWriting Effective Check-ins

✅ DO:

• Be specific and quantitative
• List concrete achievements
• Identify real blockers
• Provide actionable next steps
• Be honest about challenges
• Update regularly on schedule

❌ DON'T:

• Be vague ("making progress")
• Skip check-ins
• Only report good news
• Sugarcoat problems
• Wait until end of cycle

Check-in Templates

Weekly Check-in Template:

Value: [Update current value] Comment: [Brief overall status] Achievements: - [Specific win #1] - [Specific win #2] Blockers: - [Challenge #1 and what you need] - [Challenge #2 and who can help] Next Steps: - [Action #1 for next week] - [Action #2 for next week] Confidence: [1-10 rating]

Example Check-in:

Value: 18 new customers (target: 25) Comment: Strong progress this week. Pipeline is healthy and conversion rates are up. Achievements: - Closed 3 enterprise deals worth $45k MRR - Completed onboarding for 2 customers from last week - Sales team completed product training Blockers: - Contract approval process taking 2+ weeks - Need additional sales engineer support for demos Next Steps: - Schedule 5 new demo calls - Follow up with 3 prospects in negotiation - Streamline contract approval workflow Confidence: 8/10 Viewing Check-in History

From Key Result View:

1. Open the key result detail page
2. Scroll to "Check-in History"
3. See chronological list of all check-ins:
   • Date and time
   • Value and progress at that point
   • Comment
   • Achievements, blockers, next steps
   • Who submitted it
   • Confidence level

From Charts:

• Progress over time graph
• Trend line
• Velocity indicators
• Projected completion date

Editing Check-ins

Can You Edit?

• Yes, shortly after submitting (usually 24 hours)
• After that, check-ins are locked for data integrity
• Admins may be able to edit longer

How to Edit:

1. Go to check-in history
2. Find the check-in
3. Click "Edit" (if available)
4. Make changes
5. Save

Best Practice: Submit carefully the first time. Historical accuracy is important.

Deleting Check-ins

When to Delete:

• Submitted by mistake
• Duplicate entry
• Test data

How to Delete:

1. Find the check-in in history
2. Click "Delete" or "..." menu
3. Confirm deletion

⚠️ Note: Deleting a check-in recalculates progress based on remaining check-ins.

Progress TrackingHow Progress is Calculated

For Individual Key Results:

Direction: Increase

Progress = (Current - Initial) / (Target - Initial) × 100

Direction: Decrease

Progress = (Initial - Current) / (Initial - Target) × 100

For Objectives:

Objective Progress = Σ(KR Progress × KR Weight) / Σ(KR Weight)

Example:

Objective with 3 Key Results: - KR1: 60% progress, weight 1.0 - KR2: 80% progress, weight 1.5 - KR3: 40% progress, weight 0.5 Total = (60×1.0 + 80×1.5 + 40×0.5) / (1.0+1.5+0.5) = (60 + 120 + 20) / 3 = 200 / 3 = 66.7% Progress Indicators

Color Coding:

• Green (70-100%): On track or exceeding
• Yellow (40-69%): Needs attention
• Red (0-39%): At risk or blocked
• Gray: No data or not started

Progress Badges:

• Ahead: Above expected progress
• On Track: Meeting expectations
• Behind: Below expected progress
• At Risk: Unlikely to achieve target

Trend Analysis

The system tracks:

Velocity:

• How fast you're progressing
• Points per week/month
• Acceleration or deceleration

Projected Completion:

• Based on current velocity
• Estimated completion date
• Whether you'll hit target by deadline

Confidence Trends:

• How confidence changes over time
• Early warning indicator
• Team morale signal

Check-in RemindersSetting Up Reminders

For Your Key Results:

1. Go to Settings > Profile > Notifications
2. Enable "Check-in Reminders"
3. Choose frequency:
   • Based on check-in interval
   • Custom schedule
4. Choose notification method:
   • Email
   • In-app notification
   • Both
5. Save settings

What You'll Receive:

• Reminder when check-in is due
• Summary of key results needing updates
• Link to quick check-in form

Snoozing Reminders

If you need more time:

1. Click "Snooze" in reminder
2. Select duration (1 day, 3 days, 1 week)
3. Reminder returns after snooze period

Bulk Check-insSubmitting Multiple Check-ins at Once

From Dashboard:

1. Look for "Bulk Check-in" option
2. See all your key results due for check-in
3. Update values for multiple key results
4. Add comments to each
5. Submit all at once

Benefits:

• Save time
• Ensure nothing is missed
• Consistent timing
• Good for weekly review ritual

Reporting on Key ResultsIndividual Key Result Reports

View detailed analytics:

1. Open key result detail page
2. See visualizations:
   • Progress chart over time
   • Velocity graph
   • Confidence trend
   • Check-in frequency

Objective-Level Reports

See all key results for an objective:

• Comparison of progress across key results
• Which KRs are ahead/behind
• Overall objective health
• Contributor activity

Company/Team Reports

Aggregate view (for admins):

• All key results across organization
• Progress distribution
• Check-in compliance
• At-risk key results

See Reports & Analytics for more details.

Key Result Best PracticesDO:

1. Set Ambitious Targets: 70% achievement is excellent
2. Check In Regularly: Weekly is ideal
3. Be Honest: Report actual progress, not desired
4. Update Current Value: Don't just update progress %
5. Use All Check-in Fields: Achievements, blockers, next steps
6. Set Realistic Confidence: Use it as early warning
7. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge progress
8. Adjust if Needed: Mid-cycle adjustments are okay if circumstances change drastically

DON'T:

1. Sandbag Targets: Don't set easy goals
2. Skip Check-ins: Momentum requires regular updates
3. Only Report at End: Weekly beats quarterly
4. Game the Metrics: Focus on real outcomes
5. Ignore Blockers: Surface problems early
6. Set Too Many: 2-5 KRs per objective is ideal
7. Change Targets Frequently: Adjust only when truly necessary
8. Make Them Activities: Key results are outcomes, not tasks

TroubleshootingProgress Not Calculating Correctly

Check:

1. Initial value is set correctly
2. Target value is set correctly
3. Direction (increase/decrease) is correct
4. Current value is updated in check-ins
5. Weights are set properly

Cannot Submit Check-in

Possible Causes:

1. Key result is archived
2. Objective is completed or cancelled
3. Permission issues
4. You're not the key result owner

Solution:

• Verify objective status
• Check key result owner
• Contact admin if needed

Missing Check-in Data

If check-ins don't appear:

1. Check if you're viewing correct time period
2. Verify check-in was saved
3. Refresh the page
4. Check filters